2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

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financialservices
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aviva-medical-insurance
7801031
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# How to stop smoking - medical insurance from Telegraph
## It's hard to give up cigarettes because the sensations caused by nicotine
are addictive. The good news is that, if you want to kick the habit, there's
plenty of help on offer.
![Replacing cigarettes with healthy snacks can help you to quit smoking. ][1]
Replacing cigarettes with healthy snacks can help you to quit smoking.
4:59PM BST 03 Jun 2010
Let's look at why cigarettes are so unhealthy:
**What's wrong with smoking? **
Tobacco contains thousands of chemicals, some of which are carcinogens - the
chemicals that cause cancer. If you inhale, you'll also take carbon monoxide
into your body. That takes the place of oxygen in the blood stream, so your
lungs work less efficiently. Build ups from the tar in tobacco clog your
tubes, and nicotine can also increase cholesterol levels.
**Smoking effects on your health**
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We know it's bad for our health. The packaging tells us that, clearly. What it
doesn't do, is highlight the major diseases - and some less obvious problems -
that could affect you, regardless of age:
**Major diseases linked to smoking **
• Cardiovascular disease - furring of arteries, which can lead to blockages.
These cause angina and heart attacks; in the brain they can cause stroke.
• Lung cancer - up to 90 per cent of lung cancer is due to not being able to
kick the habit.
• Other cancers - bladder cancer, cancer of the oesophagus, kidneys, pancreas
and cervical cancer are all more common.
• Chronic bronchitis and emphysema - restriction of air flow through your
respiratory system, which makes breathing difficult.
**Less obvious problems that smokers experience**
• Erectile dysfunction - the risk increases by 50 per cent in men aged from 30
to 50.
• Fertility problems - couples who can't kick the habit are more likely to
have problems having children.
• Raised blood pressure - causes hypertension, which increases the risk of
heart attack or strokes.
• Asthma - is worse if you haven't given up. It can also counteract asthma
medication.
• Gradual loss of eyesight - the chances of this increases, the more
cigarettes you smoke.
• Skin ageing - as the supply of blood and Vitamin A to skin reduces, wrinkles
increase.
**Tips on how to quit smoking**
Don't worry if you've tried to kick the habit before. You may not have found
what works for you - on average, it takes four or five attempts. If you're
physically and mentally prepared it's a good idea, and setting a goal really
helps. Your GP will be happy to help, but here are some ideas that you could
try:
• Be realistic. It's hard, so take it one day at a time and don't panic if
things don't work first time round.
• Find a good reason. Set a good example to your kids - it could improve their
health, too.
• Cut down slowly. Work out what makes you reach for the pack... and see if
you can reduce your habit gradually.
• Have a back-up plan. Keep something to hand as a replacement activity - like
a carrot stick to snack on.
• Make it harder. Get rid of ashtrays - don't let anyone bring tobacco into
your home.
• Find a buddy. Giving up together is easier.
• Know about the side-effects. Coughing, increased appetite and feeling
irritable - it's not easy, but you'll get there.
• Get the help that's on offer. Give the NHS Smoking Helpline a call on 0800
022 4332.
• Get replacement therapy. Patches and gum - things that don't contain carbon
monoxide or tar.
• Talk to your GP. 'Kick the habit medicines' work by reducing cravings and
altering the way your body reacts to nicotine.
• Work out the cost. Work out what you could reward yourself with after, say,
six months smoke-free.
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Telegraph
## [Medical Insurance with Aviva][13]
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External Links
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## [Private medical Insurance »][19]
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### [Health Insurance Company of the Year 2010][13]
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### [How to stop smoking - medical insurance from Telegraph][23]
[![Replacing cigarettes with healthy snacks can help you to quit smoking.
][24] ][23]
It's hard to give up cigarettes because the sensations caused by nicotine are
addictive. The good news is that, if you want to kick the habit, there's
plenty of help on offer.
### [Coping with stress][5]
[![Laughter is a great stress buster. ][25] ][5]
When you're worried, when you're under pressure - we call it stress. It's
usually associated with the physical or mental side-effects of busy lives, and
too much to worry about. But the truth is, a little bit of pressure can be
good for us - it keep us motivated, on our toes, and makes us work harder.
[EDITOR'S CHOICE »][26]
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[![Gil Scott-Heron][28]][27]
Composer, musician, poet and author whose writing provided a vivid commentary
on the black American experience.
### [Beekeeping diary: the new colonies arrive][29]
### [Spectacular light show dazzles Sydney][30]
### [WS Gilbert: a knight for our times][31]
### [The Telegraph's Matt is Hay Festival star][32]
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smoking_1649929c.jpg
[2]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800912/Private-
medical-cover-10-great-reasons-to-choose-Aviva.html
[3]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800979/Aviva-
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[4]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800995/Staying-
healthy-with-Telegraph-medical-insurance.html
[5]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7801073/Stress-
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[6]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7801065/Flu-
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[7]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7801127/Blood-
pressure-readings-medical-insurance-from-Telegraph.html
[8]: #
[9]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-article-
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[23]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7801031/How-to-
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[24]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01649/aviva-
smoking_1649929e.jpg
[25]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01649/aviva-
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[26]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/editors-choice/
[27]: /news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8543514/Gil-
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[28]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/scott-
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[29]: /gardening/beekeeping/8540368/Beekeeping-diary-the-new-colonies-
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[31]: /culture/music/opera/8543571/WS-Gilbert-a-theatrical-knight-suited-
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[32]: /culture/hay-festival/8543375/Hay-Festival-star-is-Daily-Telegraphs-
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