High Blood Pressure : Treatments

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications. There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure, including: Alpha blockers; Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhi...

There is no cure for primary hypertension, but blood pressure can almost always be lowered with the correct treatment. The goal of treatment is to lower blood pressure to levels that will prevent heart disease and other complications of hypertensi...

There is no cure for primary hypertension, but blood pressure can almost always be lowered with the correct treatment. The goal of treatment is to lower blood pressure to levels that will prevent heart disease and other complications of hypertensi...

There is no cure for primary hypertension, but blood pressure can almost always be lowered with the correct treatment. The goal of treatment is to lower blood pressure to levels that will prevent heart disease and other complications of hypertensi...

There is no cure for primary hypertension, but blood pressure can almost always be lowered with appropriate treatment. The goal of treatment is to lower blood pressure to levels that will prevent heart disease and other complications of hypertensi...

A review of the methods and technology available for home monitoring, which can be an important aid to lowering your blood pressure.

Have you been hesitant to try to break your bad health habits because you thought the task would be too difficult? Then get ready for some good news.

Detailed information on lifestyle changes necessary to lower your risk for heart disease

Although our modern lives have become more prosperous and comfortable, our bodies are still built to handle the kinds of stresses faced by our ancestors, and we are ill-equipped to fight new threats such as viruses or pollution.

Detailed information on teenagers and children and exercise, including the benefits of exercise

Exercise is any activity requiring physical exertion done for the sake of health. Activities range from walking and yoga to lifting weights and martial arts .

Detailed information on children and exercise

Methodical and repetitive physical activity benefiting a person's health. Traditionally, exercise has been a concern of adults, the reasoning being that children are naturally active and do not need any structured program of physical activity. Scientists and physicians now generally agree that regular exercise is beneficial to a child's health. Exercise, pediatricians argue, is needed to counteract such alarm ing trends as childhood obesity, resulting from, among other factors, poor nutritional habits and a sedentary lifestyle. While the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that exercise classes do not benefit children under the age of three, there is general agreement that moderate aerobic exercise (e.g., running, walking, cycling, or swimming), in addition to strengthening the child's cardiovascular system, establishes healthy exercise habits which will positively affect long-range health. However, according to Fitness for Life, children may not be getting the right kind of exercise in school, as school programs emphasize competitive sports, such as soccer and football, which develop skills and endurance, without providing the benefits of an aerobic workout. Experts have noted that younger children need parental supervision while exercising; in fact, parental participation is recommended, as children often need direction for structured activities. Furthermore, children, because of their short attention span, need brief exercise periods. As Bob Glover and Jack Shepherd have observed, children are easily discouraged if adults attempt to impose their own style of exercising. Since children may perceive longer exercise periods as boring, it is important to make simple aerobic exercise fun. This can be done by organizing hikes and games of tag or hide-and-seek; dancing to music is also good aerobic exercise. Experts generally agree that school-age children need about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three or four times a week. The President's Council on Physical Fitness, however, suggests at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. In addition to better physical health, researchers have found that exercise can foster a child's intellectual and spiritual development as well. In fact, University of Toronto physiology professor Roy J. Shephard has found that students who spend an extra hour in gym class improve their academic performance. Subsequent research seems to confirm Shephard's original findings (Olsen, 1994). Exercise also plays an important therapeutic role for children suffering from various physical and mental conditions. Muscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy, and various physical injuries are not an obstacle to exercise, and many handicapped children successfully participate in races, games, exercise programs, even competitive sports. Notable among the fitness programs for handicapped children is the Achilles Track Club Youth Program in New York City, which offers physical education enabling handicapped youngsters to participate in races. Researchers have found that children with handicaps can actually engage in quite demanding types of physical activity such as judo. Jorge M. Glaser and Joseph Y. Margulies studied a group of seven blind and mentally retarded children with associated psychiatric disorders. Using a modified form of judo, the researchers organized a biweekly training program for these children. When the six-month program was completed, the scientists found improvements in the children's physical fitness, gross and fine motor skills, and psychological disposition. Exercise is also an important therapeutic tool in the field of child psychiatry. According to research done at the San Diego Center for Children, which offers treatment to children with serious emotional and behavioral problems, exercise may decrease aggressiveness. A special form of exercise used for children with psychiatric conditions is dance movement therapy (DMT), which the American Dan

Detailed information on finding the right exercise program and the right preparation

Detailed information on finding the right exercise program and the right preparation

Detailed information on starting an exercise program to lower your risk of heart disease

Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of conditioning the body. Exercise consists of cardiovascular conditioning, strength and resistance training, and flexibility.

Detailed information on starting an exercise program to lower your risk of heart disease

When it comes to lowering your risk for heart disease or heart attack, being physically active is as important as eating a healthy diet and not smoking.

Detailed information on finding the right exercise program and the right preparation

Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of conditioning any part of the body. Exercise is utilized to improve health, maintain fitness and is important as a means of physical rehabilitation .

Detailed information on the benefits of exercise for persons of all ages, including the elderly

Detailed information on the benefits of exercise for persons of all ages, including the elderly

Detailed information on the benefits of exercise for persons of all ages, including the elderly

Exercise is physical activity that is undertaken in order to improve one's health. Physicians, physical therapists, and researchers have found that exercise plays an important role in the maintenance of brain, nerve, and muscle function in the human body. New research suggests that exercise may delay mental deterioration with age and disease, and perhaps even promote neurogenesis (nerve cell growth).

Simple and small movements can get you started exercising. You don’t need to join a gym to start moving. Make it easy on yourself and you will be able to make exercising a habit. Slow, gentle, and easy is the way to begin to make exercising part of your life.

Regular exercise is crucial to keeping the circulatory system functioning optimally, which in turn is beneficial to overall health and protection from heart disease.

C-reactive protein is emerging as a key risk factor for heart disease. A guide to new research on this protein, how to test for it, and how exercise can lower its presence in the blood.

Many studies link exercise with a reduced risk of certain types of cancer. The biggest reductions were for colon and breast cancer, but its effect on other cancers is so far inconclusive.

Instead of popping a pill to restore long-lost vigor, try propping a pillow under your head and getting to bed earlier. More sleep, exercise and better nutrition are the natural path to greater vitality.

The experts who tell us we need more exercise agree on one thing. Doing something, they say, is better than doing nothing.

People who keep lost weight off tend to have several habits in common. Here are strategies that can help you be a successful long-term loser.

Some children are very involved in competitive sports, but many other youngsters get no exercise at all. That lack of exercise is tied to an increase in childhood weight problems.

Some excuses—I weigh too much, I'm too old, I have too many health problems—are in themselves strong arguments for increasing physical activity.

Fitness is important at every age. For seniors, regular exercise can improve or perhaps prolong life. An exercise program for someone over 70 should focus on cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, improving flexibility, and improving balance.

Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of conditioning any part of the body or to improve performance in a specific task. Exercise is utilized to improve health, maintain fitness, and is important as a means of physical rehabilitation.

Exercise is much more effective than vitamins or supplements at reducing the risk of heart disease. The benefits of exercise against cancer are not conclusive, but it is likely to have other positive effects on overall health.

This workout can be done at home or at the gym, using your own body weight as resistance, or with weights.

Exercise is good for you. You're probably sick of hearing that message. But did you know too much exercise can make you sick?

The Surgeon General of the United States defines exercise as physical activity that involves planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movements in order to improve or maintain physical fitness. As an element of health, exercise involves both strength training of the muscles and cardiovascular fitness, with stretching activities for flexibility. Most research on physical activity for fitness stresses the intensity and regularity of exercise as key elements. Typical exercise activities include fast walking, running, cycling, swimming, or aerobics classes. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, in conjunction with the American Council on Sports Medicine, recommends that all adults perform 30 or more minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity for 5–7 days per week. The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement on Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health identifies inactivity as a major public health problem in the United States. They have recommended exercise regimens 5–7 days a week for people who are already active, and such leisure activities as gardening, walking, using stairs instead of an elevator, cleaning house and recreational pursuits etc., for people who are largely sedentary.

Unlike other muscles, your heart muscle does not tire from use. Your heart is like other muscles, however, in that it needs exercise to work efficiently. What kind of exercise would that be? All it takes is a brisk 30-minute walk most days of the week.

Doctors and physical therapists say people with arthritis can improve their health and fitness through exercise without damaging their joints.

Findings of the Women's Health Initiative study regarding fat, diet, and exercise are just as applicable to men as to women.

A recent study reports that regular exercise reduced mortality by as much as half among breast cancer survivors.

More than 28 percent of Americans are completely sedentary (they engage in no physical activity), with an additional 60 percent being inadequately active (engaging in less than 30 minutes of activity per day). For those who strive to achieve and maintain a high quality of health, it must be recognized that physical activity is vital to optimal health. This is reaffirmed by numerous studies that have found an association between physical activity, health, longevity, and an improved quality of life. In addition, the number of deaths related to sedentary living or obesity is approximately a half-million per year. Physical activity may impact quality of life in several ways: it can be used to improve self-image and self-esteem, physical wellness , and health. Participation in physical activity can be beneficial for anyone and can be started during any stage of life. One goal of Healthy People 2010, a set of national health objectives established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to increase the number of people who participate in daily physical activity. This activity can take many forms, ranging from a regimented exercise program to daily life activities such as house or yard work, walking a pet, or walking around town to complete errands.

Stretching is an easy thing you can do to improve your health, yet it's often the most neglected part of people's fitness regimens. Stretching can reduce your injury risk and help you become more limber, regardless of your age and physical condition.

Just as you make time to take a shower or brush your teeth, exercise should be a part of what you do every day, and it has to be for your own good, says the American Council on Exercise.

Detailed information on exercise induced asthma, including symptoms and recommendations for asthma control

Every morning take five minutes to apply attention, intention and wholeheartedness to a helpful activity.

Like adults, children should be physically active most, if not all, days of the week.

To help yourself get moving, address that inner voice that lets you off the exercise hook.

You know it's important to stay active but still find yourself falling back on old habits. What can you do?

You've been out of shape before, but this time it's serious. You can't walk across a room without huffing and puffing.

Reaching for your toes instead of the remote is one key to better health.

You may wonder how you can improve the health of your heart. If you’re thinking about exercise, you’re on the right track. You don’t need to become an athlete, but you do need a certain amount of brisk exercise.

Exercises After Breast Surgery: Ball Squeeze, Arm Cross, Broom StretchAs you recover from breast surgery, your doctor will tell you when it is safe to begin exercising. Your goal will be to regain normal range of motion and use of your arm.

Ask your doctor which sports and exercises are best for you. Here is a picture that shows many fun activities. Circle the sports you enjoy or would like to try.

If you have asthma, you can enjoy sports if you know how to do them safely. Being active can even help your asthma. Besides being fun, exercise can make you a winner. Here are some examples.

Exercise is good for everyone, including people with asthma. Exercise can improve your health. It also helps your body make better use of oxygen. This can reduce asthma symptoms. Just be sure your exercise program is one designed to keep your asthma under control.

Here are exercises that can help strengthen your muscles and keep them loose and flexible. Ask your doctor whether they’re right for you. Your doctor or physical therapist may also suggest other exercises.

Studies show that people who exercise are the most likely to lose weight and keep it off. Exercise burns calories. It helps build muscle to make your body stronger. Make exercise part of your weight-management plan.

Do you need to be convinced that exercise is a good idea? Exercise and fitness offer you all kinds of rewards. Think about your goals. Can exercise help you achieve some of them?

Recent studies show that several short activity breaks during the day can add up to better health. You don’t have to fit your life around activity. Instead, you can fit activity into your daily life.

Your exercise goal is a total of 30 minutes on most days. Be sure you’re getting the most from your time spent being active. You’re working your heart and lungs. Try adding a few activities for other muscles in your body, too.

Once you get the hang of exercising 30 minutes most days of the week, you can move on to the next stage. Do this by increasing the intensity. This means doing your activity in one or more of these ways: Longer. Faster. More often.

Getting your heart to work at the right pace means you’ll develop better aerobic endurance. A stronger heart can pump more oxygen to your muscles. Then you don’t tire as quickly during your hobbies, sports, or daily activities.

Tired eyes? Stiff neck? A few easy moves can help prevent these kinds of problems.

These easy exercises can help relieve tension and soreness. Take a few minutes each day to do them right at your desk.

Don’t let fear of an asthma flare-up keep your child from being active. Olympic athletes with asthma are able to perform because their asthma is in control. The same is true for your child.

Here are some common reasons people don’t exercise. Are any of these true for you?

A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about cardiovascular exercise for lower back pain sufferers.

A study comparing different forms of exercise for people with moderate heart failure found that ballroom dancing was as effective as a traditional exercise regimen, and also improved patients' quality of life.

Brief updates on tingling stents, Alzheimer's disease and blood pressure, exercise as medicine, and vascular disease in women.

My resting heart rate is on the high side, and it rises quickly when I exercise. I am afraid to go faster than 2 miles an hour on the treadmill, and I don't feel like I'm getting a real workout. Is it dangerous for me to go over my target heart rate?

The American Heart Association has launched a web site to help people track their eating habits and exercise, and offers tips and encouragement toward living a healthier life.

The chance of a woman having a cardiac episode while exercising is extremely small, especially for active, healthy women who exercise regularly.

Older women are less likely to exercise. A supplement containing bitter orange caused chest pain. A healthy heart may help protect mental health as well.

Flexing your heart muscle can go a long way toward preventing heart failure.

Exercise that does not result in weight loss is probably just as beneficial to the body in other ways.

People who eat several small meals per day may take in more total calories than those who eat fewer but larger meals, but their cholesterol level is often lower. Similarly, several short periods of exercise can be as beneficial as fewer, extended ones.

A study shows uphill and downhill hiking provide strong, yet different, health benefits. Also, ways to protect your knees.

Is it safe to begin running or high-impact exercise while breastfeeding? I have heard oxytocin causes ligament softening, so there may be a risk of long-term damage.

What exercises are considered "low impact?" Are there different guidelines for low impact exercises for teens than for adults?

What exercise or exercises should I do to help prevent falls? Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

What is the best exercise for relieving pain in the hip joint? Diana Post, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

A training log helps you organize and save information about your exercise routine so you can work toward your important goals.

The day you wake up with a cold or some other illness, it's time to ponder: Should you go ahead and exercise -- or roll over and get some extra sleep?

In a spinning class, you alternate intervals of "hill climbing" (increased tension on the bike) and "sprinting" (less tension).

Can you keep on talking while working out? Then you're exercising at a moderate intensity.

Research shows that an intensive exercise program can help stroke survivors recover their motor skills.

To heal your back and make your spine healthy, it's essential to build up and nurture the back muscles. This is accomplished by systematic stretching of not only the muscles in the back, but the other muscles in the body as well, since virtually all muscles in the body affect the back in one way or another.

Here are some guidelines that can help you make the right choice when shopping for gear.

You know it's important to stay active but still find yourself falling back on old habits. What can you do? Planning for exercise isn't hard if you make it a priority.

Physical inactivity is just as big a risk factor for heart disease as high blood pressure and smoking are. So, be the exception rather than the rule. Here are eight ways to exercise for a healthier heart.

If you left your jump rope behind after childhood, consider picking it up again. Jumping rope is a convenient, cheap aerobic workout.

Cold weather doesn't have to put a freeze on your outdoor exercise program. If you take precautions, you can still work out when the weather turns chilly.

If you're looking for a reason to exercise, try this one: A routine workout may help ward off blood clots, the villains behind most heart attacks. You suffer a heart attack when a blood clot forms in an artery, blocking oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart.

When recommending treatment for clinical depression, physicians typically prescribe a tried-and-true regimen: anti-depressant medication and "talk" therapy. In the future, however, health professionals may be advocating a healthy dose of exercise.

You can't walk across a room without huffing and puffing. Your arms get tired unpacking a bag of groceries. You're carrying more and more excess body weight. And you can't remember the last time you got any real exercise.

In their quest to live a longer and healthier life, many people turn to supplements, herbal remedies and other forms of complementary medicine. But one remedy for a longer life costs nothing and requires no additional studies to prove its effectiveness.

Need inspiration? Look to these five Americans who show just how physical you can get in later life.

Just 15 minutes of flexibility stretching with controlled breathing are ideal before strolling the links, and can result in a stronger game.

A private advisory group's call for 60 minutes of physical activity each day are in line with the 2005 USDA Guidelines for exercise of 30 to 60 minutes. The new advice was meant to get people moving, but some experts are worried about recommending 60 minutes.

The office may seem like an odd place to work out, but you spend most of your day there. Even short bursts of movement count.

Energy bars, fitness drinks, protein powders, sports supplements -- are these the best ways to power your workout?

Tune In to Exercise During CommercialsLinda Buch doesn't believe people who say they have no time to work out."These are the same people who never miss an episode of their favorite sitcom," says Ms.

Exercise has important health benefits for everyone -- regardless of age and physical condition. But for people with arthritis, working out regularly, and within their limits, is critical.

"We now know that exercise is the most underrated health precaution anyone, even those with chronic conditions, can take," says J. Larry Durstine, Ph.D., a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

For many of us, getting regular exercise is challenging enough. But it can be even tougher when you've taken off a month or more.

Regular exercise can have both direct and indirect benefits for those with chronic pain.

Regular exercise can improve your health and longevity. But doing too much too soon or not taking proper precautions can cause injury.

Keeping your back muscles strong and your spine flexible can help you avoid aches, pains and strains that many people suffer.

Although exercise is an important for everyone, it's especially beneficial for those who have been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy.

While regular physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness at any age, it’s during your 30s, 40s and 50s that exercise becomes especially important.

Exercise is an important part of a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan. A complete program consists of three types of exercises: range-of-motion exercises, aerobic exercises, strengthening exercises.

Older adults who want to improve their physical health are turning to warm-water exercise.

Like your signature, the exercise routine you prefer is individual. If you’re outgoing, for example, working out in a group situation could be what keeps you coming back for more. A more reserved person, however, might do better exercising solo.

Fatigue, stress and bad posture can cause stiffness and soreness in the shoulders, neck, chest and upper back. Doing stretches regularly can help prevent and relieve these conditions.

Most of us know we should exercise, but we have a lot of excuses for why we don't.

There are plenty of options to choose from if you want to get fit but don’t have 45 to 60 minutes daily to devote to exercise. But there’s a catch to taking shortcuts.

If you're an avid golfer, winter weather can really get you down, as you count down the days until spring arrives.

Your exercise time can depend on everything from your work schedule to when your kids get up or go to bed.

When you exercise, you gain more strength and flexibility. Your mood will improve, and you'll be able to think better.

The way you think about exercise can be the crucial factor in sticking with your fitness program.

One reason for passing up regular exercise may be that plenty of misconceptions about getting fit still exist.

One of the most important steps you can take to reduce the risk for back pain is to perform a stretching/flexibility workout every morning.

Make your workout work. From arm curls to three-way lunges, review these tips on correct exercise techniques.

An exercise program includes more than just your daily activity. Be sure to warm up before you start and cool down when you’re done.

Follow these guidelines to help prevent problems. And always stay alert for signs that you may be exercising too hard.

Your exercise program doesn't have to be complicated. Simply walking around your neighborhood is a great way to stay fit.

Here are a series of exercises you can do throughout your pregnancy.

Being pregnant can be hard work for your body. Regular exercise will help you stay fit and feel good.

With daily workouts, back exercises may bring an added bonus: you may stay more active. Practice the stretches in the morning to loosen tight muscles, and do the strengtheners throughout your day.

The latest studies conclude that a successful weight-loss plan is a mind/body undertaking that not only involves monitoring calorie intake and expenditure, but dealing with the psychological side of weight loss and habit change.

If you’ve tried everything, yet weight loss continues to elude you, don’t give up. There are ways to up the odds and increase your chance of success.

Many nutrition experts say that having a healthy snack midmorning or midafternoon can help you maintain your energy and prevent you from eating too much at lunch or dinner.

Questions and Answers About Smoking Cessation1. How important is it to stop smoking? 

Smoking prevalence has been declining in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but these declines are matched by increasing rates in most other countries. The Healthy People 2010 goal in the United States is to decrease prevalence from 24 percent to 12 percent by the year 2010. This goal can only be achieved by helping current smokers to quit. Increasing the incidence of quitting is achieved through medications, counseling strategies, and public health approaches.

There are a lot of ways to quit smoking and many resources to help you. Family members, friends, and coworkers may be supportive or encouraging, but the desire and commitment to quit must be your own. Most people who have been able to successfully quit smoking made at least one unsuccessful attempt in the past. Try not to view past attempts to quit as failures, but rather as learning experiences. Feel ready to quit? First and foremost, set a quit date and quit completely on that day. To prepare for that day: Identify the times you are most likely to smoke. For example, do you tend to smoke when feeling stressed? When you are out at night with friends? While you are drinking coffee or alcohol? When you are bored? While you are driving; Keep a diary to help you determine such risky times. Record each time you have a cigarette, including time of day and what you are doing; Make a plan about what you will do instead of smoking at those times when you are most likely to smoke. For example, drink tea instead of coffee - tea may not trigger the desire for a cigarette. Or, take a walk when feeling stressed. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from the car. Place pretzels or hard candies there instead. Pretend-smoke with a straw; Let all of your friends, family, and coworkers know of your plan to stop smoking and your quit date. Just being aware that they know can be a helpful reminder and motivator; Before your quit date, start reducing your cigarette use, including decreasing the number and strength of the cigarettes. However, do NOT do this simply to make your diary "look good." Get rid of all of your cigarettes just before the quit date, and clean out anything that smells like smoke, such as clothes and furniture. Other tips to help you quit smoking and stick to it: Enroll in a smoking cessation program (hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites often offer programs; Ask your health care provider for advice, including whether prescription medications are safe and appropriate for you; Find out about nicotine patches, gum, and sprays; Try hypnosis - it works for some people; Avoid smoke-filled settings and situations in which you are more likely to smoke; Get more exercise. It helps relieve the urge to smoke; Learn self-hypnosis from a qualified practitioner. This helps some people. The American Cancer Society's web site - www.cancer.org - is an excellent resource for smokers who are trying to quit, and the Great American Smokeout can help some smokers kick the habit. Above all, don't get discouraged if you aren't able to quit smoking the first time. Nicotine addiction is a hard habit to break. Try something different next time. See also: Nicotine withdrawal; Tobacco use.

When you are trying to quit, the support of friends, coworkers and family members can make a big difference.

You may think that willpower is all it takes to quit smoking. But the truth is that it takes much more. It also takes planning, support, coping, and changes to your daily routine.

Smoking: Yes, You Can QuitLearn how to get help to quit smoking and improve your chances of quitting.This document explains the best ways for you to quit as well as new treatments to help. It lists new medications that can double or triple your ch...

Smoking cessation is the medical term for quitting smoking. It is a vital part of cancer prevention because smoking is the single most preventable cause of death from cancer. As early as 1982, the Surgeon General reported that tobacco causes more cancer deaths in the United States than any other factor-30% of all cancer deaths, including 87% of deaths from lung cancer. Although people think of smoking most often in connection with lung cancer, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), esophagus, pancreas, kidney, and bladder. Women who smoke increase their risk of cancer of the cervix. Quitting smoking, however, significantly reduces the risk of cancer; 15 years after quitting, a former smoker's risk is almost as low as that of someone who has never smoked.

Life may seem out of control, but you're really making progress. You're going through withdrawal, which is how your body recovers from smoking.

Know your triggers for wanting a cigarette and figure out a plan to deal with them.

Nicotine Substitutes Can Help You QuitIf you're ready to stop smoking, then you must be ready for the challenge when your quit date arrives. Clean out your ashtrays, and throw away any lighters and old packs lying around.

Smoking cessation means "to quit smoking," or "withdrawal from nicotine." Because smoking is highly addictive, quitting the habit often involves irritability, headache, mood swings, and cravings associated with the sudden cessation or reduction of tobacco use by a nicotine-dependent individual.

Once you’re addicted to smoking you will always be addicted. The strength of the addiction will gradually decrease, however, and now you are a recovering addict. Many recent ex-smokers have been lulled into a false sense of security.

It's Never Too Late to Quit SmokingWhen you’ve been diagnosed with cancer--particularly lung cancer--it may be hard to think or talk about quitting smoking. Why?

Teens who smoke are more likely to quit if they can be convinced to participate in a cessation program that emphasizes the health risks of smoking, provides motivational encouragement and coping skills, and encourages a healthy overall lifestyle.

Is there a safe treatment for a pregnant woman to help stop nicotine cravings?

In the short term, quitters just feel better, and in the long run, their health is better than those who keep smoking.

Quitting is difficult, but people do quit. Each year, three million Americans give up smoking for good.

I stopped smoking several weeks ago, and now I find that I'm coughing a lot. Is that normal?

I recently stopped smoking -- a month ago to be exact -- and now I find that I'm coughing a lot. Is this normal?

Everyone who successfully quits smoking makes a commitment to stop smoking, then devises a plan to do so.

Several new drugs, if approved for public use, may give smokers additional options to help them quit.

Have realistic expectations - quitting isn't easy, but it's not impossible either. More than 3 million Americans quit every year. Understand that withdrawal symptoms are temporary. They usually last only 1-2 weeks.

Every day, about 3,000 U.S. teenagers start smoking. If you're a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help the child quit. But first, it helps to understand why teens light up.

You know you should quit smoking. But you just haven't gotten around to it yet. Here are some reasons to help you commit to quitting.

Saying good-bye to cigarettes for good can be difficult. To succeed, you need to make changes to your daily life. But, like the many others who have quit, you too can triumph.

Fewer than a quarter of those who attempt to quit are able to make it beyond three months before resuming smoking. Women usually find it harder to quit than do men, even though women have a higher risk of smoking-related diseases. The following suggestions can help you kick the habit, again, for good.

By using nicotine replacement therapy to reduce withdrawal symptoms, smokers who try to quit have a better chance of succeeding.

As you probably already know, quitting smoking isn't easy. But, millions of other people have done it, and you can, too.

Having a plan helps you reach any goal. Your plan to quit smoking starts with a choice. First, pick a way to quit.

This article can help you cope with the short-term discomforts that come with quitting. We also give suggestions on how to avoid or limit the situations that make you want to smoke and what to do if you start smoking again.

Among other things, keep a personal benefits log. Write down the benefits you experience from being smoke-free (for example, I can smell flowers again!) Write the specific occurrence, the date it first happened, and your reaction.

If you slip and smoke, don't be discouraged. Many former smokers tried to stop several times before they finally succeeded. Here's what to do.

A smoker's recovery plan includes listing those activities that you have chosen to help reduce the pressures of nicotine withdrawal and staying smoke-free.

The personal motivation list will help you identify the benefits of quitting, for you, for your family, and for your friends.

Every cigarette you don’t smoke is a benefit to you and your baby. Deciding not to smoke can be a tough choice, but you can change. Even if you’ve tried before, don’t give up.

Decide what actions will help you quit. Think about the triggers around you. Then create a plan that works for you.

Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy: Beating WithdrawalThe first day after you quit smoking, as the nicotine leaves your body, you’re likely to notice symptoms ofwithdrawal.These are signs of your body recovering form smoking. For some people, withd...

Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy: Let Go of Stress Without SmokingStress is a common way to react to life events. Your body may become tense, your mood may shift, or you may feel worried.

Summarizes studies that show benefits of quitting smoking at various ages.