Quit smoking

What damage can smoking do to your body

Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking and are irreversible.

How does smoking lead to wrinkles? Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin, depleting it of oxygen and important nutrients; such as vitamin A. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.

In addition, repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles.

Smoking not only increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, but can also increase blood sugar levels and reduce your body's ability to use insulin. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco can damage blood vessels, muscles and organs. This may also increase your risk of diabetes. Pregnant women who smoke have an increased risk of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).

Quit smoking: Strategies to help you quit

You have many options when looking for ways to stop smoking. Explore these ideas as you prepare to quit.

A key strategy for living a longer, healthier life comes as no surprise — don't smoke. If you're a smoker, you're simply more likely to die prematurely — from heart or lung disease, for instance. Smoking can take more than 10 years off your life. But there's good news. Quitting now means health benefits start in just minutes, and your risk of heart disease is cut in half in as little as a year.

Using more than one strategy to stop smoking might increase your chances of quitting successfully. Consider the following options:

1.Plan ahead. Get in the quitting mindset before you stop for good. Your quit date might be a few days in the future, or it could be two weeks. In the days leading up to your quit date, cut back on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.

2.Medication. Medication helps reduce cravings and eases the withdrawal symptoms of quitting until the worst effects are over. You have many options — both prescription and over-the-counter. Discuss your options with your doctor.

3.Self-help. To plan and maintain your attempt to stop smoking, obtain publications from national health organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as your state and local public health departments. Arm yourself with information that will help convince you to stay off cigarettes once you stop smoking.

4.Group support. Whether you meet online or at an in-person support group, seek the support of others who are trying to stop smoking. The federal government and many states offer stop smoking help online or over the phone.

5.Individual counseling.This includes one-on-one contact with a trusted doctor, psychologist, nurse or counselor. This gives you a forum to discuss the barriers you have to quitting and, once you stop smoking, the urges you'll have to light up again. Whomever you seek counseling from can discuss ways to deal with the challenges.

6.Cold turkey. This is a sudden, decisive break from cigarettes. You stop smoking completely with little or no reduction beforehand. If you quit cold turkey, you're likely to experience symptoms of withdrawal, like nearly everyone else who quits smoking. Some withdrawal symptoms you may experience after you stop smoking include restlessness, increased appetite and irritability. It's a good idea to get some form of help when you stop smoking, whether it's a support network or medication

7.Exercise. This may help reduce the stress and weight gain that sometimes occur when you stop smoking.

8.Buddy system. Ask a nonsmoking friend or family member to be available for you to contact when you experience tough times or when you have a reason to celebrate

9. Acupuncture: Most of our patient quit within first month of acupuncture and herbal therapy.

To stop smoking you need a personal approach. What works for some people won't work for others. Talk with your doctor about your options for quitting and what might work best for you.