Why is smoking bad for you | Addiction Killer

Smoking is injurious to health”- This phrase has few words but very strong Health Effects.

Smoking is about generating an admiration of the addictive drug, nicotine.  Many attempts at making Cigarettes without nicotine have been produced and failed commercially.  Smokers get habituated to Cigarettes and find it hard to quit which initiates more Health Risks.

It is an addiction that can damage our body in many different ways. Tobacco is the major factor leading to rising of coronary artery disease causing a heart attack. Tobacco contains many chemicals out if which Nicotine is the most dreadful one. It causes an increment in the rate of blood pressure.

Read more: 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADDICTION RECOVERY

 Smoking 1 cigarette is equal to losing 14 minutes of your life. Smokers are more likely on the risk of dying before age 65 than nonsmokers. People may tend to develop the side effects of smoking such as rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath, impair sports performance. All the smokers are confused & have conflicting views about smoking. This is because sometimes they feel pleasure & relaxation while smoking whereas sometimes they are fully aware of the hazards of smoking.  Even though knowing the negative consequences of it, smoking is repeated again & again. Later it becomes a habit & this habit leads to Addiction. Beginning smokers usually experience Nausea, Dizziness, Headache, and Coughing. Along with other unpleasant symptoms leading to ill Health Effects.

Habits are affected by your environment, something you see or do in your daily life generate a trigger. Triggers are the stimuli associated with smoking. The FACT IS: Every cigarette you smoke harms your body!!

Smokers have a mentality of thinking 2 contradictory statements simultaneously:

Craving – having a very strong want or need for a cigarette and feeling irritated when you don’t get.

Habit – doing things the same way over and over when you smoke.

Potential Benefits of Quitting are: Food tastes better and Breath, clothes, hair, and nails do not smell of cigarette smoke

Quitting smoking may is the most needful step that you can take to improve your health. Some Steps to Quit Smoking and avoiding Health Risks are listed below:

1. Develop your Quit Plan
2. Decide Your Quit Day
3. Quit
4. Maintain your Quit Plan 

Once you quit:

In the next 12 hours- the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal.

In the next 2-12 weeks- blood circulation and lung function begin to improve.

In the next 1 year- the increased risk of having a heart attack is reduced by half.

Read More: MARIJUANA’S EFFECTS ON BRAIN CELLS

Read More

6 Side Effects After You Quit Smoking

Making up your mind to quit smoking is easy but most of the people are afraid to cope up with the withdrawal symptoms that follow. It can be depressing for some people because physical and psychological symptoms are really hard to tolerate when they are activated.

This is not the same with everyone; this doesn’t mean that everyone who leaves smoking will experience the same nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Read More: 20 FACTS ABOUT HOW SMOKING AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH

People who quit cigarette using cold turkey method experience worse symptoms than the individual who take help of smoking aids, counseling and support system that may include nicotine replacement therapy.

You can prepare yourself better by understanding the signs and the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and learn how you will act when they will occur. You just have to remember that these symptoms are going to remain for less time as they will only create a temporary situation. A minimal preparation and persistent will help you through it.

1.  Nicotine Cravings 
 The desire to smoke a cigarette is commonly known as nicotine cravings, it is the most challenging and non-stoppable symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Nicotinic receptors present in the brain create the feeling of cravings. When you quit smoking the brain will not able to release the hormone that gives a pleasure affect that the body is used to it. The body has adapted the nicotine behavior and it craves for it as it is a physiological response. Nicotine cravings don’t last for more than 15 minutes. Though the cravings make a person really uncomfortable but make sure you won’t relapse and continuously remind yourself that this feeling will pass. If you think that there are chances of relapse you can use an alternative like chewing nicotine gum or taking a long walk.

2.   Weight Gain

         When you are quitting smoking, the urge to smoke has to be replaced by the something else (food). When you replace smoking with food, it will become a reason for weight gain. Soon you will experience unexplained hunger and you will feel the need to intake sweets, carbs or other food items. This will result in the excess eating of snacks and that will increase the body weight.

3.   Disturbance in Sleep

      Dopamine helps in sleep regulation so when the addict quit smoking, it creates a dysregulation of this hormone and this creates disturbance in sleep. Sleep problem is the common side effect of nicotine withdrawal.

4.   Persistent Cough

         When an individual quit smoking they develop a persistent cough and they feel scared when this happens. There is nothing to worry about as coughing is a sign that shows that your lungs are becoming better.

         When you smoke, the small finger-like projections in the covering of your air passage, called cilia, will progress toward becoming immobilized and finally they flatten out. After you quit, the cilia will come back to its typical shape and capacity, the poisonous deposits that are stored in the lungs are pushed out with the help of a cough.

        This symptom can be controlled by staying hydrated, using honey or use cough medicine to ease your throat from irritation.

5.    Mood Swings

          The most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are stress and irritation because it changes the function of central nervous system. This will cause an extreme change in mood, sudden irrational outbursts, it may take several physiological changes such as an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, memory problem, and problem in concentrating.

6.   Constipation

         In addition to the lungs and mind, the stomach related tract can be adversely influenced on the off chance that you quit smoking. Doing as such modifies the motility and compression of the digestive tracts, significantly moderating the speed by which food is digested.

          Every one in six smokers who leave cigarette will experience bloating or constipation that will last for one or two weeks.

Read More: WHY QUITTING SMOKING IS HARD

Read More

Benefits of Herbal Medicine You Need to Know

What is Herbal Medicine?

Herbs are naturally occurring and are derived from plants which are used for treating various diseases are known as herbal medicines. These medicines are made up of organic chemicals that are extracted by raw or processed part of the plant.

Herbs are used as medicine form for more than 20,000 years; it has historic roots in various cultures around the world. Herbal medicines are also known as botanical medicines as it uses the plant’s seeds, roots, leaves, or flowers for making any medicine.

Ayurveda relies on a holistic approach that uses natural herbs in making medicines to cure all illnesses. The usage of herbs as medicine is widely accepted in modern as well as the western world. Various ingredients used in herbal medicines are used to relieve symptoms. There are several benefits of herbs that are beneficial for human health.

Read More:  ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

1.    Relatively Cheaper than Conventional Medicine

There are many which are available in the market and are less expensive than many modern medicines. The reason why herbal medicines are becoming more & more popular because people can’t afford the medicines with a high price tag. Another reason for the popularity of herbal medicines is that they don’t have any side effects on the body of an individual

2. You Should Not Substitute Herbs for other Medicines

Natural herbs work on a holistic approach; it provides overall strength to the body. These herbs can take longer than the modern medicines (which our bodies are used to) because they will find the root cause of the problem then start working on it to improve the symptoms.

3.  Easy To Obtain

There is a wide variety of herbal products available in the market. Herbal tea, essential oils, and other herbal food items are available in grocery stores. You can purchase them without any prescription required by doctors. This will help you to avoid health care costs that you incur to see a doctor

 4. Herbal Medicines Are Safer Than Pharmaceuticals

These medicines are made up of natural herbs that contain rich nutrients which don’t harm any individual who consumes it. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical medicines if taken in excess have certain side effects.

5.  Is Beneficial & Has Healing Property

Benefits of herbs have been remarkable in the field of medical science. Natural herbs are used in treating various acute and chronic diseases. Moreover, it acts as a healing agent in many major health problems like weakened immune systems, cardiovascular diseases, depression, etc. Fun fact: 177 Cancer treatment drugs use natural herbs for formulation & are approved worldwide

Read More: WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM | SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOLISM

Read More

Tips On How To Talk to Your Teen To Quit Smoking | Addiction Killer

Smoking among teens is the most common and glamorized thing. It has become a trend to smoke in public, to be cool, to become a part of the crowd. Even after knowing the devastating effects of cigarettes on the human body, people still smoke. Cigarette contains nicotine that can cause various diseases like lung cancer, throat cancer, colon cancer, oral cancer, etc. Smoking cigarette damages the brain and also has long-term effects on the addict’s body. 

How to Quit Smoking? 

Toughest question to be asked and solved.

Teen smoking is always taken lightly but 90% of the adults who smoke are the people who started smoking when they were young. To keep cigarettes away from your kids, there are some tips that should be followed by you for your kids to quit smoking: 

Set an example

It is often said that the teenagers whose parents are involved in smoking will definitely grow up as smokers. An advice to the parents – if they are smoking then they should quit smoking. The prior you quit, the more your child will be away from these abusive substances. 

If you can’t stop smoking then you should at least stop smoking in front of your child and consult the doctor.

Harmful for your Appeal

When a person smokes, it gives him/ her bad breath, smelly and dirty clothes. There are more chances of developing wrinkles at a very small age. Teach your child that it will create a long-lasting effect on his/ her body and will give a chronic cough that can lead to cancer.

Calculate the expense

Every cigarette you smoke is expensive. Calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly expense of the pack of the cigarette, he smokes every day. Then compare that cost with clothes, electronic devices or other useful items.

Teach to quit smoking

If your child is indulging in smoking then teach him how to quit smoking. Support him/ her while he/ she want to quit smoking and also give them alternatives the can use to leave this bad habit

Expect peer pressure

Parents should teach their children that how they can avoid smoking or how they should react to the situation when someone offers them cigarette for the first time.

Give knowledge about side effects

Talk to your child about the devastating effects of cigarette smoking, give example of any relative who has been affected with cigarette smoking.

Most importantly, if you come to know that your child is an addict then instead of scolding him/ her or reacting in a harsh manner, you should emphasize on how to quit smoking as that will help him.

Read More: What is alcoholism | Symptoms of alcoholism

Read More

Marijuana Rehab Treatment | Rehab | Addiction Killer

Marijuana is a drug that is known by a number of different names like a weed, pot, ganja, etc, a dried mixture of cannabis. It is the highly used legal drug in the United States which has 76% current legal drug used. THL (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is an active ingredient responsible for pleasurable effect when one smoke marijuana. When someone smokes marijuana, it promptly passes through the lungs into the bloodstream and goes throughout the body and the central system. Marijuana users are increasing at a very fast pace. Many people think that marijuana is not harmful and addictive as other substance but it is not true. Marijuana is addictive like other substances and has numerous side effects too.

The people who have been using this drug know the long-term side effects of this drug. After realizing the side effects of this drug people are hell-bent on finding the marijuana addiction treatment. It is a habitually addictive drug that is very difficult to quit because it has a more psychological addiction which can be more powerful.

Marijuana addiction will leave you feeling frightened because you become so physically and psychologically dependent on its effects, you can’t imagine a life without weed. The treatments available that are used for marijuana addiction treatment can vary dramatically but the success rate is the same. There are some principles that are described below that have a successful marijuana abuse treatment plan.

• Mental, physical and emotional needs of the addict should be focused.
• Easy therapies should be there for the addicts so that they can understand better.
• Positive attitude towards marijuana addiction treatment should be there in the addict.
• The first step of the treatment should be Detox.
• Other possible mental disorders should also be processed in the treatment

The people who are struggling with a marijuana addiction may also have a mental illness such as depression. Mental illness should also be conquered during rehabilitation.

There are two types of programmes available in marijuana rehabilitation programme that help the addict to cure and quit his/her addiction to marijuana.

1. Inpatient Facilities and Outpatient Clinics are two programs that are available. Before choosing any of them, many factors are kept in mind. 
2. If a person is suffering from severe addiction to marijuana then you should find drug rehab center. Inpatient drug rehabilitation center can help you intensively with the therapy and provide you tools that will help you in defeating marijuana and other drug addiction so that you can come back on the right track. The treatment will be effective and this will help you to live a successful, happy and productive life. 

Read: Alcohol Withdrawl Symptoms 

Getting help from others for leaving addiction is one of the best decisions that one will make for them or for the people they love. If you seek help for marijuana abuse then there are some factors that you have to keep in mind before grabbing any one program from the other. Being aware of these factors will help you take a tough call: where you want to take help from.

When a person has completed his/ her marijuana abuse treatment at rehab, they will work with you so that you can go to next steps. Some addicts opt for a similarly structured program such as an Intensive Outpatient Program while others will be discharged to home. If you are discharged to home, they will connect you with local providers in your city or elsewhere to find an outpatient therapist who can best meet your needs. They’ll provide you with an appointment time and contact person as well as an available community resource to allow for your continued healing.

Read More

How To Get Off Marijuana | Addiction Killer

Marijuana is being used by people from a thousand of years. There is more than 36% of increment in people living in Indian who smoke weed. These people take drugs just to feel good or just to relax; they don’t consider the long-term effects on their bodies.

Quitting marijuana is very difficult when you are using it on a daily basis. It demands attention and serious determination to overcome the hurdles you face while quitting marijuana. Without detoxifying your body after years of consumption of weed, quitting it is really a tough task.
There are several methods to quit marijuana:
 
1. Make a clear decision to leave your addiction:

Tell your loved ones what you’re doing and ask for their help in quitting. You'll find that they're more excited to see you quit marijuana and will boost you to do so if they can. This is particularly important if you need to stay near individuals who are regular smokers. Tell them that you don’t want them to stop, but rather you'd value it on the off chance that they don't pressurize you in using. In the situation that you get no help from anybody or they want you to "participate", consider whether that individual truly has a place in your life on the off chance that he/she can't regard your decisions and choices.
 You may even need to stay away from the friends that you smoked marijuana for some time. On the off chance that your whole social existence with your friends consisted of getting high together, at that point you'll need to find a new social network. The best option is to rely on family for that.

2.  Find an activity to divert your mind:

Rather than using, dedicate your new extra time to a side interest or game. Try to make it something you too can do as fast and effectively as lighting up, for example, playing the guitar or going for a run and swing to it at whatever point you're tempted. In case you're feeling too bored or discouraged, making it impossible to do this, watch a movie that makes you smile or spend some time with a good friend who isn't a user.
 Here are some different things to try:
•    Taking long walks.
•    Conversing with an old friend over the phone.
•    Swimming.
•    Cooking.
•    Reading the newspaper.

3.  Join a social support group.

In case you're experiencing serious difficulties in leaving your addiction due to peer pressure or absence of certainty, a social group may be the response for you. There are several social support groups that help with marijuana withdrawal symptoms. The people who want to quit marijuana are part of these groups and share various ideas or techniques to drop this habit. So, no need to be tensed, you can openly share your problems and opinions with the other group members. These ideas and opinions can be fruitful to you in fighting marijuana withdrawal symptoms.

Read More

What Is Alcoholism | Symptoms Of Alcoholism | Addiction Killer

Alcoholism causes one of the most dangerous threats to life and is a very serious problem. It can be defined as a strong, often uncontrollable desire to consume alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism drink alcohol even if others close to that person suggest otherwise, be it, family, be it colleagues and people like them generate physical tolerance or experience symptoms of alcoholism when they stop drinking alcohol.

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol addiction or dependence on alcohol. Harmful drinking is also termed as alcohol dependency. Harmful drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol occasional that causes damage to your health. Drinking too much in a party, involving in an argument or risking your life is an example of harmful drinking. When drinking heavily becomes a habit and it starts to happen on regular basis turns into alcoholism. Excess of alcohol in taking shows symptoms that are also known as alcoholism warning signs.

What are the signs or symptoms of alcoholism?

If alcoholism is left untreated, alcohol dependence can be very dangerous for the addict and it may cause a various serious problem that can’t be treated. It starts giving a negative impact on person’s life and sometimes even leads to death. It is also diagnosed as alcohol use disorder. A person can recover soon if he/ she recognize alcoholism warning signs easily.

Keeping an eye on a person who is drinking alcohol or is alcohol dependent to find out the symptoms of alcoholism is a difficult task. These people can be secretive or can become angry if they have to confront that they are taking alcohol.  For instance, if a person who is close to you, shows any of the following signs then he/ she may be suffering from alcoholism.

There are some common symptoms of alcoholism that can be seen in a person who drinks too much alcohol.

• Experience temporary blackouts which may also be called short-term memory loss
• Have severe mood swings and face signs of irritability
• Drink just to relax, deal with stress or want to feel normal and make certain or make more excuses to feel normal\
• Choosing to drink over other responsibilities and obligations
• Becoming isolated and distant from friends and family members
• Drinking alone or in secrecy
• Feeling hungover when not drinking
• Your appearance seems to change and also the group of people you hang out with
• A lack of interest in previously normal activities 
• Appearing intoxicated more regularly
• Want to drink more in order to achieve the same effects 
• Appearing tired, unwell or irritable
• An inability to say no to alcohol
• Anxiety, depression or other mental health problems
• Becoming secretive or dishonest

These are the alcoholism warning signs that are seen in an addict which can’t be ignored. If the symptoms stay longer then it poses danger to the person’s health i.e. mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual health.

The problems that are caused by alcohol can affect the organs of the addict’s body, moreover, it can also affect the career, relationship with family, friends. Following body organs can be affected by alcoholism:

• Nervous System
• Liver
• Heart
• Brain

Alcohol abuse and compulsion likewise create other medical side effects. Heavy drinkers frequently attribute these difficulties to other health conditions, as they endeavor to dodge responsibility for results of their drinking. Some medical alcoholism warnings signs include:

• Blood Pressure
• Cancer
• Stomach Problems
• Sexual Problems

Due to these problems or due to excess of drinking alcohol, you may have to face some consequences like termination from job, financial problems, etc.

Our message to you would be to keep a check on yourself or someone you know who drinks more than socially acceptable amounts of alcohol.

Read More

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol addiction has ruined many lives and there is a number of people who continue to abuse drugs intentionally in order to ignore alcohol withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal treatment. The addiction community has separated the detox and withdrawal because they are physically and psychologically uncomfortable experiences. Alcohol withdrawal can become deadly when it is done without any medical attention at home. However, to choose detox, it is the first step you choose to put your life back on track. Detoxification will clean your body and flush out all the toxins from your body.

Alcoholism has always affected the person who is indulged in it and the ones who are connected with that person who is affected by alcoholism. Alcohol withdrawal is not easy for everyone and nobody can do it without any help and mind set up that they want to leave alcohol. That’s why many alcohol withdrawal treatments are available in the market. 

A man has achieved a condition of alcohol addiction, the physical portion of dependence when their body encounters alcohol withdrawal side effects once there is no more alcohol in their system. Withdrawal symptoms happen during detox, a natural process that expels all the toxins from the system. Withdrawal occurs when the brain gets signals from the neurotransmitters that disrupt the transmitters that are sending messages to the central nervous system. These transmitters produce signals that tell the sense of well-being and excess of alcohol consumption, imbalance the signals. This results in negative and mental symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that are

• Headache
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Sweating
• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea
• The Road To Recovery

The people who are experiencing one or more symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that are listed above possibility is that they will improve in 5 days. However, there are many people who experience these symptoms that last for a week or more. It is just the beginning of the detoxification. 

Once you decided to choose this path, you have to consider the following points. At this stage, to time people have almost sorted their professional team and support network.

• The amount of alcohol consumption
• How long the addict was consuming alcohol
• Weight and Age of the addict
• Alcohol was combined with other substances or not
• How much the addict drink on regular basi
• He has any family history of alcoholism.

These points of interest will help any individual and their support group to fabricate an individualized alcohol withdrawal treatment design and move forward towards a new life. 

There is an assortment of choices with regards for the people who are looking for help. Firstly, the choice to stop drinking is a most important and the toughest decision you will make in your life. Build up an arrangement for long-term support, consult with medical experts, focus on your body and wellbeing needs. There are numerous choices out there once you or somebody you adore settles on the choice of alcohol withdrawal treatment.

Read More

Changes in Life after Recovery|

There are several medicines available in the market that help an individual to quit various types of addiction that people have. Below are some changes that an individual recorded in his life after recovering from addiction. His name was Harish and he shared his sentiments with us. He shared these 6 surprising things that change his life positively.
1. I started realizing that every little choice is powerful
This is a reality I just never comprehended. Life was hopeless, and my only goal for every day was when and where to get high. Presently, I realize that each and every decision to get high was a decision not to take part throughout everyday life or sound connections. I didn’t want to care who knew, I didn’t want to care what was going on and I certainly didn’t care who I hurt. I was so devoured by my habit that nothing else makes a difference. A grouping of little however poor decisions changed the whole course of my life.
2. Achieving little goals became a huge deal
When I chose to stop using, I began by creating different goals. The greatest on the list? To make some changes with my family, be effective, and obviously, quit using drugs. The objectives were somewhat obscure, yet I realized that is the thing that I expected to do at that time to begin.

When I set my objectives, I realized that recuperation was the initial step. I went to conferences, listened intently and did what was recommended for me. I got a support, and I began working through the means. I even went up on a couple services duties, and found that helping other people is the thing that truly encourages me, driving me to effectively begin my own particular recuperation focus.
3. Life actually started to matter again
Absolute bottom for me was a dehumanizing blend of prisons, establishments, and close death encounters—yet it didn’t lead me straightforwardly to building up an existence of reason. When I was detained I was compelled to quit using, yet it wasn’t until the point when I got into recovery did my life change. After detox, I began making objectives, and started to think and I knew where it counts that my life couldn’t proceed with like it had been. Prior to that choice, “life reason” hadn’t been on my radar. It was about the following minute.
4. There was a change in Family relationships for the better
When I was in the midway of my addiction, I offended the people I thought about most—particularly my family. When I settled on the choice to get spotless and calm, my family turned into a piece of my life once more, which gave me the underlying lift I expected to begin headed for progress, and was by chance one of my objectives.
5. My definition of “fun” completely changed
For a long time, I was persuaded that getting high was the main fun that is worth having. I’d been consuming drugs for so long, I overlooked what real fun was. While in recovery, I began to rethink fun again for myself. I began setting off to playing music, going out for dinner meeting new people, and investing my time with my family.
6. And finally, so did my attitude and personality
When I was high, I was an altogether different person—a hopeless, derisive individual. I was exceptionally inhumane and demanding of my family and companions. I think I needed every other person to feel that same wretchedness I was in. When I got perfect, I began to cooperate with individuals in an unexpected way. I may not be immaculate, but rather I’ve figured out how to treat individuals well and show regard to everybody, paying little heed to what they can offer me.

Read More