Former smokers may tell you that quitting was one of the hardest things they've ever done. The physical and psychological withdrawal can be intense.
If you're thinking of quitting smoking, the U.S. Surgeon General offers these tips to help you handle the cravings:
- Drink lots of liquids, especially water.
- Avoid sugar and fatty foods, and don't skip meals.
- Exercise regularly and moderately.
- Get more sleep.
- Take deep breaths when cravings hit.
- Change your habits. For example, eat breakfast in a different place, or take a different route to work.
- Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, read a book, or exercise.
Smoking is harmful for everyone, but it can be particularly dangerous for diabetics, who are already at risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease.
If you're a diabetic who has smoked, no matter how long, you can improve your health by quitting. The American Diabetes Association offers this list of potential dangers for diabetics who smoke:
- Smoking decreases oxygen in the tissues, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
- Smoking increases cholesterol and blood pressure, which raises your risk of heart attack.
- Smoking constricts and damages blood vessels, which can make foot ulcers worse.
- Smoking increases your risk of damage to the nerves and kidneys.
- Smoking increases your risk of colds and other respiratory illnesses.
- Smoking increases blood sugar levels.
- Smoking triples your risk of death from cardiovascular disease, compared to diabetics who don't smoke.
No comments:
Post a Comment