Never Too Late To Quit Smoking

(CARLSBAD, CA) - As the decades pass, we discover more and more reasons to quit smoking, among them:

— decreased life expectancy,
— increased risk of heart disease,
— poorer quality of life (including difficulty breathing, sleeping, and a lower immunity to illness),
— your good looks (wrinkles, yellow teeth, gray hair and bad breath), and
— the personal and national cost of health care.

Now you can add brain function to the list. According to a study of nearly 10,000 European men and women, elderly smokers lose brain function five times faster than their non-smoking peers. The reason? Smoking may cause undetectable strokes or kill neurons in the brain.

Yet if you quit now, you can live longer no matter what your current age may be. A landmark study at Oxford University found that smokers died an average of 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts. But those individuals who quit smoking by the age of 50 gained an average of six years of life expectancy when compared to lifelong smokers. Those who quit by age 40 gained nine years, and best of all, those who quit by age 30 had a life expectancy equal to individuals who had never smoked!

Fortunately, smokers looking to kick the habit have a variety of tools available to them, from support groups to nicotine replacement therapies to prescription medications. But quitting an addictive habit is never easy, advises Judi Sheppard Missett, Jazzercise founder, so heed these tips as well:

— Avoid situations that trigger your desire to smoke. If you habitually reach for a cigarette after dinner, leave the table and go for a walk instead. Meet your friends in a restaurant or coffee shop, rather than in a smoke-filled bar. Keep a supply of sugar-free gum or hard candy in your car. Have a plan of action in place for the moments that you typically light up.

— Pick a specific date to quit, and make it public by sharing it with family, friends and co-workers.

— Explore cessation options with your physician and your health care insurance provider.  Success rates go up for people who use one or more of the following: prescription medication, other-the-counter therapies, support groups, hypnosis and/or acupuncture.

— If you fail, try, try again. Many people make more than one attempt before they kick the habit permanently.

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and prevent weight gain, which commonly occurs when people quit smoking. If you already exercise regularly, try a new program, class, or activity to change up your current routine. If you’re not currently active, consult with your physician before starting a new program, then choose one that appeals to you.  Yoga can be an ideal choice for new exercisers.  There are several styles of yoga, ranging from very gentle to very athletic.  Speak with an instructor to find a style that is right for you. 

You can try the following “warrior” lunge to get started.  Stand tall with your knees and toes pointing forward and your feet hip width apart.  Take a giant step forward with your left leg as you reach your arms overhead.  Keeping your shoulders down and your abdominals tight, slowly lunge forward onto your left leg.  Once you feel balanced, you can try looking upward but be sure to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed as you do this.  Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, breathing naturally. Step back to the starting position with your feet together, then switch to the other leg. 

Jazzercise, created by Judi Sheppard Missett, is the world's leading dance-fitness program with more than 6,800 instructors teaching 30,000 classes weekly in the U.S. and around the globe. Since 1969, millions of people of all ages and fitness levels have reaped the benefits of this comprehensive program, designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For more information on Jazzercise go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT or (760)476-1750.

Courtesy of Jazzercise, Inc. - jazzercise.com