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Category: Quit Smoking

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Why Some People Experience Severe Anxiety After Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things to do because of the toll it can take on the mind as well as the body. Being addicted to cigarettes has been likened to heroin or cocaine addiction. It is very difficult to quit and there are withdrawal symptoms that come along with quitting. Some people are able to get through the withdrawal symptoms with ease. Others have a more difficult time.

Some people have more difficulty quitting smoking than others and this can lead to some people experiencing severe anxiety. There is a fear that they are doing something wrong, will have a relapse, or fail outright.

This article will discuss some coping tips for to reduce stress when you are quitting, depression, and reducing anxiety, and how Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can help.

Coping Tips to Reduce Stress When You Are Quitting
- Do things you like doing
  - Keeping a positive mindset will go a long way to reach your goal of quitting smoking. One way to do that is to keep doing the things you enjoy. Whether it’s exercising, watching tv, or reading, doing the things you like to do will keep your stress and anxiety levels down, and your mind off smoking.
- Give yourself a break
  - Optimism is key to quitting smoking. Don’t get down on yourself because quitting smoking is very hard to do. If you are convinced that you can navigate this difficult path then your journey will have a much greater chance of success.
- Exercise
  - Exercise is not only good for the body, it is good for the mind. Doing some exercises will greatly reduce the stresses that come along with quitting smoking. This does not mean you have to go to the gym everyday. An exercise as simple as walking will go along way to reduce stress.
- Resolve problems quickly
  - In order to minimize your stress levels right when you quit smoking and the tough months that follow, make sure you put your affairs in order. Solving your short term problems before you start to quit smoking will save you a lot of headaches that would previously be on top of the pressures of quitting smoking.
- Know the signs of stress
  - Recognizing situations you know will stress you out, and then avoiding them, will go a long way to reducing stress and anxiety when you are quitting smoking. Signs of stress include headaches, sleeplessness, and feeling angry. When you feel these symptoms coming on, try to relax right away.
- Practise yoga
  - Yoga is really good reducing stress because it relaxes the muscles and teaches you to control your breathing. Controlling your breathing when you get in stressful situations will help you calm yourself, and not make you want to reach for a cigarette.
- Have a friend
  - Having someone around will allow you to vent out some of the things that are stressing you out and causing anxiety. Quitting smoking means that you may get agitated, angry and frustrated more easily. By having a friend to talk to you will be able to get rid of some stress. This will be helpful in your quitting process.
- Have patience
  - Quitting smoking is a difficult task and there may be times you feel like you want to give up. It might even take you a few tries to do it. The main thing is to stay positive and stay with it. There will be good days and bad days, but patience with the process will alleviate some of that stress and anxiety that comes with quitting smoking.
Depression

Depression usually occurs right after someone quits smoking. The severity of the sadness can vary for each individual but overall, it tends to be minor and not last very long. If your depression does not go away after a month, you may have a more severe case of depression and you should consult a doctor.

Mild depression can be alleviated by doing simple things such as:
- Exercising
- Doing something fun with a friend
- Breathing deeply
- Making a list of annoyances and try to fix them
Reduce Your Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are the most common side effects experienced when quitting smoking. These effects are natural and can range from mild to severe. If they last too long though, make sure you consult a doctor.

By using some of the techniques mentioned in this article you can manage the stress and anxiety. While a good support system is great and will definitely help you quit smoking, it will be up to you to reach your goal.

Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Quitting smoking is a difficult task, some have a harder time than others. If you are not one of the lucky ones that have an easy time quitting, you might experience severe anxiety after your last cigarette.

For some people it is as simple as knowing that would be their last cigarette. They will get depressed that they don’t get to do the thing they love anymore and then possible relapse. We are all human and depression and anxiety after quitting smoking is normal.

If you are experiencing severe depression or anxiety, Joseph R. Giove can help. Using the power of the mind and Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, he can help you manage these symptoms. Joseph R. Giove is a certified Clinical Hypnotist and has over 30 years of experience helping people quit smoking and manage their withdrawal symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression.
July 20, 2016
How to Get Someone to Quit Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is extremely addictive and hazardous to the health of not only the smoker, but to the people around them as well. The addictiveness of cigarettes can be compared to being addicted to heroin, so getting someone to quit is not going to be an easy task.

There are several ways to try to get someone to quit smoking, all will take patience and understanding and most will likely take more than one try to be successful. This article will discuss several methods of trying to convince someone to quit smoking, including behavioral therapy, intervention, the response to the intervention, a quit plan and social factors such as public smoking restrictions.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT, is a psychotherapy technique that focuses on negative thoughts and emotions towards smoking and developing new ways to think about them. For example; when someone says “I need a cigarette,” the habit can be altered to “I need some gum.”

Some of the more negative thoughts that people have when trying to quit are related to the anxiety of relapse. CBT teaches the smoker to think of a relapse as a good first try on the way to the next attempt. This strategy basically takes the negative feelings about failing (relapse) and turns them into a positive.
There are other techniques that use CBT in order to help change the ways that smoking is perceived in the mind.
Some of these are:
- Education – Being educated on the dangers of smoking and all of the methods available to quit can help the person realize their different options and how necessary quitting is.
- Using a Diary – This action will allow people to remember when, where, or with whom they felt like having a cigarette and then avoid those situations in the future. The same can be done when they felt good and did not want a cigarette so those situations can be repeated.
- Environments – Realizing the certain places and times when a cigarette is wanted can be helpful in avoiding them in the future.
- Social Situations – By having friends and family that smoke, it makes it harder to quit. Being surrounded by nonsmokers in nonsmoking places greatly reduces the chances of a relapse
- Exercise – Exercising can take the focus off of quitting smoking. Changing exercise into a positive will keep the mind busy and also helps cleanse the body of nicotine
Keeping a positive attitude on the journey of quitting smoking is an integral part to leading a smokefree life permanently.

Intervention

Intervention involves “one on one” interview type sessions with a doctor or nurse. They will discuss the reasons for the person smoking, benefits of quitting, effects on friends and family, and other factors related to smoking cessation. This method is similar to CBT in that the smoker has the same options but can consult with a qualified medical professional. The doctor will make a series of decisions for the smoker based on how they are responding to group therapy, individual therapy, or starting Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT’s). A doctor can also prescribe medication if they see fit. The doctor will judge the best method to be used for each individual smoker based on their unique needs.

Response to Intervention

The response to intervention will depend on each individual. What happens after the intervention is up to the smoker. The individual must choose to follow the doctor’s instructions or risk relapse.

The doctor will take every step to ensure that the individual will remain smoke-free. Some of these steps include:
- Does the smoker want to quit? – The answer must be yes in order to proceed with a medical doctor’s consultation
- Start with an intensive support program – Group or individual counselling sessions
- Does the smoker want pharmacological assistance? – If no, continue with counseling. If yes, they can start on NRT treatments such as patches or gums
- Are they remaining smoke-free? – If yes, periodical reviews with the doctor. If no, offer pharmaceutical options
Creating a Quit Plan

For smokers who know they want to quit but are scared or just not sure how, creating a quit plan is a very useful tool to assist in quitting smoking. Some of the items that should be on a quit smoking plan include:
- Quit Date – Setting a quit date is the first step in a quitting plan.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – Using CBT to change everyday habits of the smoker is an essential start to quitting smoking.
- Support – Making a list or plan of people who will be supportive is also a great way to keep the individual focused on the end goal of being smoke-free for life.
- Professional Help – Keeping an open mind about using a professional, such as Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, should also be in the plan.
- NRT – Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy is a very common way to quit smoking. NRT’s such as patches and gums gradually reduce the nicotine level ingested into the body with the hope that eventually none will be needed.
Public Smoking Restrictions

With all of the restrictions now in place on smoking in public places (bars, restaurants, casinos, and most public areas) there is no better time to convince people to quit smoking. Not being able to join in certain social situations or having to go outside several meters away from any door for a smoke break and miss out on conversation, is a motivation to smoking that can be used to get someone to quit.

The same goes for the workplace. Productivity goes down if the employees have to go down 16 floors and stand outside for 10 minutes every 2 hours. Any or all of these factors can be used as an influence to help someone decide to quit smoking.

Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Getting someone to quit smoking can be an arduous task. Someone who has smoked cigarettes for some time will most likely be highly addicted to them and will have a hard time letting go of this dangerous habit. Using the techniques in this article, there will be a higher chance of getting someone to quit smoking.
If that person does decide to quit smoking, Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective ways to do it.

Joseph R. Giove is a certified Clinical Hypnotist with over 30 years of experience in his field. He uses no chemicals or carcinogens to help quit smoking, only the power of the mind. By gently altering brain patterns, the individual will no longer crave cigarettes and may even come to despise them. After convincing someone to quit smoking, advise them that Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is one of the safest and best options for a smoke-free life.
June 16, 2016
How to Quit Smoking Cold Turkey
Smoking nicotine is very dangerous to a person’s health in a variety of ways. Cigarettes can cause emphysema, bronchitis, stroke, heart disease, many types of cancer, and other fatal diseases. They are also extremely addictive, comparable to being addicted to heroin. This makes quitting smoking very difficult, but it can be done.

This article will discuss the origins of the phrase “cold turkey,” the side effects, tricks and tips for quitting, and how Joseph R. Giove and Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is the best option to assist in quitting smoking cold turkey.

Quitting Cold Turkey and Other Options

There are many different options to quitting smoking. Most involve a means of slowly weaning the smoker off nicotine in incremental doses over a period of time. These products include patches, gums, lozenges, and prescribed pills. All of these products have a marginal success rates and are dependant on the individual and how hard they are willing to work. If a person believes they have this work ethic and strong will they might try a method called the ‘cold turkey’ method.

The official definition of cold turkey is “the abrupt and complete cessation of taking a drug to which one is addicted.”

This is one of the more popular methods of quitting smoking, at least for the first time quitters, because it is free and many people are certain they are able to simply stop.

The Origin of “Cold Turkey”

There have been a couple of people throughout history who have been credited with coining the phrase “cold turkey”.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the Thesaurus, the first use of the phrase ‘cold turkey’ was in 1921 in the Daily Columnist in British Columbia, Canada referring to ‘pitiful’ patients who voluntarily surrendered themselves to a doctor for an ailment and then “are given what is called the ‘cold turkey’ treatment.”

Another reference to “cold turkey” comes from from a book published in 1978 called ‘Cop Speak: The Lingo of Law Enforcement and Crime’, using it to describe when a person goes through withdrawals their skin becomes cold and clammy like that of a refrigerated turkey.

Whatever the actual etymology of the phrase, it has come to be known in the smoking and drug world as stopping a habit immediately and facing whatever consequences may come.

Side Effects of Quitting Cold Turkey

The cold turkey method is one of the most popular for quitting smoking. However, it can also be the most uncomfortable in terms of withdrawal symptoms. People give their brains a certain amount of nicotine when they smoke and if they decide to quit cold turkey, the sudden drop causes nicotine withdrawals. Depending on the person, these withdrawals can be mild to quite severe. Some of these symptoms include:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Constipation
- Sweating
- Coughing
- Increased Appetite
- Intense Tobacco Cravings
Tips and Tricks to Quitting Cold Turkey

While quitting smoking is hard using any method, the cold turkey method can be one one of the hardest and most uncomfortable in terms of withdrawals. That is the bad news. The good news is that these withdrawal symptoms are usually short lived. Even the longest lasting of all symptoms are shorter than when using other methods such as patches or gum.

There are some tips and tricks that smokers trying the cold turkey method can use to make the journey less painful:
- Pick an end date – Set a firm date and smoke up until then, then stop
- Choosing a date – Try to pick a day such as the last day of work or school, any day before a break in a schedule
- Avoid any place where people are smoking – The cravings will be starting to get more intense and avoiding smokers will be key
- Keep the mind positive – Indulging in books, TV shows, etc will keep the mind off of smoking
- Try to sleep more – Sleeping relaxes the mind and body, while also being a time when smoking is not an option
- Keep the hands active – The hands are familiar with the action of putting a cigarette to the mouth. Keeping them active will help remove the need make the motion
- Keep the mouth active – As with the hands, the mouth and lips are used in the repetitive action of smoking. Chewing gum is usually the most effective
- Keep lots of non-alcoholic drinks around – Thirst is part of the withdrawal process and the more fluids consumed, the faster the nicotine is flushed from the system
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The reason that an end date for quitting smoking should be close to time off from work or school is that irritability is a large factor for smokers who quit cold turkey. Finding a place of comfort to spend some time away from frustrating situations and people is essential for the first few days.

Many people find themselves getting upset and irrational at things that they normally would not be and projecting that anger on co-workers, friends, and family is not going to be good for anyone. However, a close friend who understands and that can be yelled at can be beneficial too!

Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

The aforementioned tricks and tips act as guidelines to help smokers who quit cold turkey get through the withdrawal symptoms. However, it takes more than just a few things to play with and drinking water to quit smoking for life.

Cravings will be the most difficult factor going through the first few weeks or months after that last cigarette. Changing behaviors that were used when smoking will also be key to achieve being smoke free. Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can help with both.

Joseph R. Giove is a certified Clinical Hypnotist who has more than 30 years of experience helping people quit smoking. Using Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, the brain patterns are gently altered so that a person no longer craves, and even dislikes cigarettes, which will also change the behaviour towards smoking cigarettes. Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is the perfect accompaniment to quitting smoking cold turkey and being smoke free forever.
May 30, 2016
Quitting Smoking Timeline
Quitting smoking improperly is one of the hardest endeavors a person can undertake. Scientists have found that nicotine addiction is similar in intensity to being addicted to heroin or cocaine. There are endless health benefits to quitting smoking including dramatically reducing the chances of developing many cancers (particularly lung cancer), lessening the risk of a stroke or heart attack, and countless other physical and psychological health improvements.

People who successfully quit smoking more often than not look back and remember thinking the process was going to be a nightmare but with help from smoking cessations aids such as Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, the actual journey ended up being easier than they first imagined.

The key component of ditching cigarettes for good is first to make the decision to quit. It can be helpful tool is to understand what may happen in your mind and body in the coming minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years when you quit this debilitating addiction called smoking. This article will discuss the different phases the body and mind of the smoker will go through as they start the journey of quitting smoking, and how Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can be an important and valuable resource for quitting the easiest way.

The Timeline

The following is a timeline of what the body and mind will go through after the final cigarette is smoked:

20 to 30 Minutes
- The heart rate of a smoker returns to the normal level of a non-smoker. This is how quickly a smoker’s life can change for the better and begin reverting to a normal, healthy state.
- Some people may be feeling anxious knowing that they have just smoked their last cigarette, and keeping the sentiment “one hour and one day at a time” is very important to achieving this goal.
- Thinking about the long term at this point can be overwhelming; focusing on the present is the best way to get through the first steps.
2 to 4 Hours
- The heart rate and blood pressure are almost at normal levels and your peripheral circulation has improved, meaning the senses in the tips of the fingers and toes are returning.
- This can also be the time when cravings begin. Some people experience cravings depending on how long and how much was smoked as and the brain adjusts to not having nicotine poison.
- Distracting the mind from smoking is a useful way to ease the cravings. Doing chores, extra work, or exercise are great ways to take your mind off the looking cigarette break that will never come.
8 to 12 Hours
- Smoking cigarettes causes carbon monoxide to be inhaled into the lungs, which bonds remarkably well with blood cells that make it harder for those blood cells to bond with oxygen cells, in turn leading to heart problems.
- After just 12 hours, the carbon monoxide in the body will decrease by more than half and the blood oxygen levels will increase.
- Some people may experience a restless or sleepless night, but keeping the right mindset and the same bedtime routine is essential.
24 Hours
- The risk of having a stroke or heart attack has now decreased by 70{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} compared to that of a smoker.
- Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool that helps with taking the mind off cravings and the stress that accompanies it, and works by relaxing and gently adjusting your mindset.
48 Hours
- Smoking cigarettes for a prolonged period decreases the sensitivity of taste, smell and touch. At this time, the nerve endings will begin to re-grow and the senses of all three begin to return to levels of a non-smoker.
- At this point over 90{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} of the nicotine has been removed from the bloodstream.
- Any previously experienced irritability and anger should also subside at this time.
3 Days
- After 72 hours the nicotine will be completely flushed from the body.
- Physical symptoms can include headaches and even stomach pains..
- Despite these side effects, the body is replenishing itself, the bronchial tubes that lead to the air sacs are beginning to relax and breathing becomes easier.
1 to 3 Weeks
- Heart attack and stroke risks have decreased to levels of those of a non-smoker, along with normalized blood circulation and normal psychological behavior.
- The longer a person does not smoke, the more efficient their lungs will be, returning to their previous health.
- Exercise and increased physical activity will be possible and will leave people less “winded” as the efficiency of the lungs increases.
1 to 9 Months
- About one month after the last cigarette, the tiny hair-like organelles that push mucus out of the lungs called cilia, begin to function properly after finally repairing themselves.
- Now that the cilia are functioning properly, the risk of infection drops and in turn excess coughing and shortness of breath with abate.
- Withdrawal symptoms should completely subside in this time frame, and smoke-free living becomes easier and easier
1 Year
- After a full year of not smoking the risk of a heart attack, stroke, and coronary heart disease reduces by 50{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} compared to that of a smoker.
5 Years to “The Rest of Your Life”
- The risk of having a stroke is now on par with a non-smoker and the risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer is down to a 30 – 50{cb12661b2b7fd86e618703ac3a1bf5df9897d897450d7668a57e7745cc225577} chance compared to a smoker.
- After 10 years without smoking the risk of acquiring smoking related illnesses, diseases and cancers becomes the same as a non-smoker.
Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

After smoking for any period of time, long or short, there will be certain withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting. The symptoms outlined in this article can be mild or quite severe, depending on the individual. Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can help ease these symptoms.

There are many ways to quit smoking including patches, gums, lozenges, and inhalants. These options work for some people, but the number one proven method for quitting smoking is Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.

Joseph R. Giove is a certified Clinical Hypnotist and his proven methods have been helping people quit smoking for over 25 years. Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy is painless and also uses no harmful chemicals or carcinogens found in other quitting smoking methods. If you or someone you know wishes to start on a better, smoke-free path, then Joseph R. Giove Clinic can help.
April 30, 2016
Does Nicotine Cause Vasoconstriction Or Vasodilation?
At this point, pretty much everyone can agree that smoking is incredibly bad for your health – even the cigarette companies themselves have resigned themselves to this indisputable truth. But a surprising number of people who visit me here at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis don’t seem to fully understand just what the various chemicals and compounds in a cigarette do to their health.

One perfect example is the primary reason that people smoke – nicotine. This highly addictive substance is what keeps people coming back to cigarettes, and is included in virtually any kind of retail level smoking cessation product, from electronic cigarettes to nicotine patches and beyond. Many people assume that this is the only danger associated with it – it hooks you on smoking so you keep coming back, and the tar and other compounds are what harm your health.

But nicotine does indeed lead to some serious health issues, and one of the biggest is in its impact on the blood vessels and the circulatory system. This is something worth taking a closer look at so you can understand why nicotine is so dangerous to your health.

Vasoconstriction or Vasodilation?

The first thing to clear up what nicotine does to the vessels themselves. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that causes the blood vessels to shrink and tighten up. This in turn has a big impact on the blood pressure. Since vessels are smaller, blood pressure rises and brings with it a wide range of health risks.

Left unchecked, high blood pressure can cause serious health problems, including damaged arteries, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and more. Blood pressure alone is a major health risk, and enhancing its severity through the use of nicotine is something that should be avoided.

As a vasoconstrictor, nicotine has this effect on the blood vessels no matter what form it’s ingested. In other words, whether you smoke, vape, or use a patch, the impact on your blood vessels and circulatory system as a whole is the same. Once the nicotine is in the bloodstream, it has this impact on your health.

What Will Vasoconstriction Do?

I’ve already touched on the basic principle behind what a vasoconstrictor does in as much as it causes a narrowing of the blood vessels and an increase in blood pressure. But beyond that, what else will happen within the circulatory system when this occurs? Here are a few additional things to understand.
- The heart must work harder now in order to pump blood through the body. As a result, your risk of developing heart and cardiovascular system related problems is dramatically increased due to nicotine use.
- Nicotine also causes the body to release fat and cholesterol when it enters the blood stream. This means that you have an increased amount of cholesterol flowing through the circulatory system, which in turn means that there is an increased chance of your cholesterol levels building up.
- That cholesterol problem is only made worse when you smoke. Carbon monoxide is found in every puff of a cigarette, and when you smoke and expose yourself to it, the carbon monoxide makes it easier for fat and cholesterol to attach themselves to your arteries.
In short, when you use nicotine you’re not only causing the vessels to shrink directly, but also lead to long term damage caused by cholesterol.

The Dangers Of Smaller Arteries

Increased blood pressure is the obvious risk associated with narrowing of the arteries. However, it’s important to understand that when you shrink the size of your arteries you are in turn directly making it harder for your body to get the blood it needs.

When a narrow artery leads to less blood flow through a particular body part, it means that the body part may not be able to work as it properly should. This is particular true of the brain. Narrowed arteries leading to the brain could restrict blood flow to it, and in the process may have a serious impact on your brain’s health. It can reduce mental function and even lead to permanent damage. This applies to any part of the body.

Additionally, the heart must work harder to deal with the narrowed arteries and the increased blood pressure. In doing so, you increase the risk of a heart attack being caused by an overworked heart muscle. Simply put, using any kind of nicotine product can dramatically impact your health.

Pregnant Women And Vasoconstriction

It’s also very important to touch on the fact that pregnant women who smoke are placing their unborn child at very serious risk as well. The primary reason lies in the fact that a fetus gets all of its nourishment from blood vessels leading from mother to baby. When nicotine is used, those same blood vessels are narrowed just like any other in the body.

This leads to fetal undernourishment and has been linked to a wide range of health problems for unborn children including:
- Increased risk of obesity
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Increased risk of facial clefts
- Brain development and metabolism abnormalities
- Impaired orientation of the newborn
- Increased chance of infertility later in life
- Overall developmental toxicity
In fact, for more than 20 years nicotine has been on the list of chemicals according to the state of California that has been proven to cause developmental problems in infants. As dangerous as smoking and nicotine use is for adults, it’s even more harmful to unborn children.

Step Away From Nicotine

Finally, I should point out that the damage done to the blood vessels is really only one part of what nicotine can do to your health. There are many other ways that it can damage your health and as such it’s important to take steps to free yourself from it entirely. Using e-cigs or patches can certainly help you stop smoking, but you need to get away from the nicotine entirely.

It’s not always easy, but the power of hypnosis and your own willpower can certainly help. If you’re serious about improving your health and wellbeing, nicotine has to go.
January 27, 2016
How 1 in 5 Quit Smoking

31 October 1992 by ROBERT MATTHEWS
Magazine issue 1845, The New Scientist

Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. Willpower, it turns out, counts for very little.

Smokers are coming under increasing pressure to quit. Earlier this month the Institute of Actuaries published the results of a study it commissioned which showed that the mortality rate for smokers is twice as high as for nonsmokers, and that, on average, a smoker dies 6 years earlier than a nonsmoker. Surveys suggest that three in four smokers would like to give up, according to the antismoking campaign Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

To find the most effective way to give up smoking, Frank Schmidt and research student Chockalingam Viswesvaran of the University of Iowa carried out a meta-analysis, statistically combining the results of more than 600 studies covering almost 72 000 people from America, Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe. By combining the results from so many separate studies, the meta-analysis enables the real effectiveness of each technique to be picked out from the statistical ‘noise’ that often blights studies involving smaller numbers of subjects.

(more…)

September 22, 2013

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