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.

Smoking doesn’t only cause wrinkles on your face. A 2007 study found that smoking is associated with increased wrinkling and skin damage on other parts of the body, including the inner arms.

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.

Quit smoking: Practical strategies for success

Ready to quit smoking? Experiment with these quit-smoking strategies.

Ready to quit smoking? Good for you! Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. If you’re not sure how to start, consider these quit-smoking strategies. Experiment until you find what works best for you.

Put it on paper

Consider what you don’t like about smoking and why you want to quit smoking. Do you want to banish bad breath? Reduce your risk of a heart attack? Have more energy? Set a good example for your kids? Write it down. Whenever you feel the urge to smoke, take out the list to remind yourself why you want to quit smoking. It might also help to think of all you’ll gain when you quit smoking, such as a longer and healthier life, and more money — and time — to spend on things you enjoy.

Seek support

Tell your family, friends and co-workers that you’re planning to quit smoking. Ask anyone in your household who smokes to quit with you. Join a support group — either in person or online — for people who’ve quit smoking. Speak with a tobacco cessation specialist through your doctor, a local smoking cessation program or a telephone-based program. Toll-free tobacco quit lines are available in every state in the United States and many countries throughout the world.

If you’re not sure you want to reach out for help, consider what the researchers say: The more counseling you receive, the more likely you’ll remain tobacco-free.

Take it slow

You might start quitting by simply cutting back. Delay your first cigarette of the day, or make it inconvenient to smoke. Keep your cigarettes and lighters in the car when you’re in the house or working. Smoke only half of each cigarette. Buy only one pack of cigarettes at a time. Trade one smoking break a day for a brisk walk or other physical activity. Then set a date to quit smoking for good.

Avoid smoking triggers

Recognize high-risk places and situations — and do your best to avoid them. Go places where smoking isn’t allowed, such as a museum or movie theater. Hang out with people who don’t smoke. At work, try the main door instead of the smoking entrance. Keep especially busy during off-work hours.

It also helps to replace old habits with new routines that aren’t associated with smoking. Chew gum while you drive, or take a new route to work. Get up from the table immediately after eating. Drink water or tea instead of coffee or alcohol. Walk while you chat on the phone. Practice saying, “No thanks, I don’t smoke.”

Try a stop-smoking product

For help decreasing withdrawal symptoms and managing cravings, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products. Some types of nicotine replacement therapy — including patches, gum and lozenges — are available over-the-counter. Nicotine nasal spray and the nicotine inhaler are available by prescription. Other medications might be an option, too. Bupropion (Zyban) can help control nicotine cravings. Varenicline (Chantix) can decrease the pleasurable effects of smoking, as well as reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

If using stop-smoking products seems like an easy way out, don’t be so hard on yourself. A combination of medication and behavior changes is often the most effective way to quit smoking.

Distract yourself

When you want to smoke, call a friend, take a brisk walk or run in place. To keep your mouth busy, chew sugarless gum, cinnamon sticks, toothpicks or straws. If you can hold out long enough — usually just a few minutes — the nicotine craving will pass. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it’s OK to have just one cigarette. It’s not.

Relax

Stress or anxiety may increase your urge to smoke. To keep stress under control, prioritize your tasks. Consider what you can eliminate or delegate to someone else. Take a break when you need it. Breathe deeply. Stretch. Listen to your favorite music. Laugh. Exercise. Reward yourself for not smoking by doing something you enjoy every day, such as walking in the park, soaking in the tub or watching a funny movie.

Take it one day at a time

Don’t worry about next week or next month. Focus on today. Every hour without a cigarette brings you one step closer to quitting for good — and freedom from an unhealthy, expensive habit.

Learn from your mistakes

If you slip — whether you have one cigarette or you slide back into your old smoking pattern — don’t give up. Identify what went wrong and ask yourself what you learned from the experience. Then decide what changes can help you succeed next time.

20 ways to cope with nicotine cravings

Nicotine cravings can be powerful. Fight back with these simple — yet effective — craving busters.

Nicotine cravings can be powerful. But you’re not at the mercy of your cravings. When a nicotine craving strikes, remember that it’ll pass — often within less than five minutes — whether you smoke a cigarette or not. Each time you resist a nicotine craving, you’re one step closer to quitting smoking for good.

In the meantime, here are 20 craving busters to help you ride out the urge to smoke.

1. Move. Do deep knee bends, run in place or climb the stairs. A few minutes of brisk activity may stop your nicotine craving in its tracks.
2. Replace. Try a stop-smoking product instead of a cigarette. Some types of nicotine replacement therapy — including patches, gum and lozenges — are available over-the-counter. Nicotine nasal spray and the nicotine inhaler are available by prescription.
3. Face yourself in the mirror. List out loud the reasons you want to quit smoking. Include the benefits of staying tobacco-free, such as a longer and healthier life, and more money — and time — to spend on things you enjoy.
4. Breathe deeply. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. You might even inhale air through a drinking straw.
5. Call for reinforcements. Team up with someone who doesn’t smoke for a quick chat or brisk walk.
6. Make believe. Imagine your lungs getting healthier as each minute passes.
7. Do the math. Add up how much money you’ll save by not smoking for a week, a month or a year. Make a list of luxuries you could buy with your savings — or calculate the interest you’ll earn by investing the money.
8. Read a quitter’s blog. Post encouraging thoughts for someone else who might be struggling with nicotine cravings.
9. Drink up. Sip a glass of ice water slowly. When the water is gone, suck on the ice cubes.
10. Sort your recipes. Jot down the ingredients for a few good-for-you recipes you’ve been meaning to try. The next time you shop for groceries, you’ll be a step ahead of the game.
11. Laugh. Share a funny story with a friend, or search the Internet for a funny joke.
12. Plan ahead. Make a list of all the ways you can reward yourself for making it through another nicotine craving.
13. Freshen your breath. Brush and floss your teeth, rinse with mouthwash or suck on a breath mint.
14. Clean your closet. Discard any clothes yellowed by cigarette smoke or damaged with cigarette burns.
15. Try a mind bender. Do a crossword puzzle, word game or number puzzle.
16. Get soapy. Wash your car, scrub the floor or give the dog a bath.
17. Keep your mouth busy. Chew on a cinnamon stick, flavored toothpick or sugarless gum.
18. Get musical. Whistle, sing or play a musical instrument. Ask a partner to dance.
19. Have a ball. Dribble a basketball, hit a tennis ball against the wall or play catch with a partner.
20. Be positive. Remind yourself that the power to quit smoking is in your hands.

It took Japanese scientists more than 24 years to develop this remarkable technology. Now you can reap the benefits in just minutes using our safe, effective and easy-to-use Detox Patches.

Detox Patches are so easy-to-use, discreet and convenient. Just attach one patch to each of the soles of your feet before you go to sleep at night. You’re actually able to see all the harmful toxins that were naturally absorbed on the patch.

We Americans worry so much about the toxins that we put into our bodies and it is about time that we find something that can detoxify our bodies and get rid of all the harmful chemicals and imbalances through these patches. It is easy to use and it will help cleanse your body by absorbing pesticides, tar and nicotine if you smoke, cholesterol, transfats and other food additives that weren’t meant for our bodies to process. It may also comfort aching muscles, support strained joints and absorb toxins naturally. It uses a technology that has been with us for ages – by applying the patch to proven pressure points on your feet, it could assist your body to self-heal.

Simply apply the bandage with the attached sachet on your foot every night and watch as the toxins are absorbed when you remove the detox patch in the morning.

If you want to try this product, you can go to DtoxPatch.com and obtain a free sample. Do comment and make your reviews here on this site to let other readers know about its effect.

Goodluck!