When the ill-health effects of smoking were first discovered, doctors imagined that warning people about the dangers of smoking would result in them giving up. However, it also took increased taxation of tobacco, banning of advertising and support for smoking cessation to maintain a decline in smoking rates. In several European countries (including the UK), this has culminated in a complete ban on smoking in all public places – legislation that only became possible as the public became convinced of the dangers of secondhand smoke. However, smoking rates remain high in many poorer areas and are increasing amongst young women. In many developing countries, tobacco companies have found new markets and rates are rising. Worldwide, there are approximately 1 billion smokers, and it is estimated by WHO that 6 million die prematurely each year as a result of their habit.

In reality, there is a complex hierarchy of systems that interact to cause smokers to initiate and maintain their habit. At the molecular and cellular levels, nicotine acts on the nervous system to create dependence, so that smokers experience unpleasant effects when they attempt to quit. So, even if they know it is harmful, the role of addiction in maintaining the habit is important. Influences at the personal and social level are just as important. Many individuals bolster their denial of the harmful effects of smoking by focusing on someone they knew personally who smoked until he or she was very old and died peacefully in bed. Such strong counterexamples help smokers to maintain internal beliefs that comfort them when presented with statistical evidence.

Methods for smoking cessation

According to smokers compliance, Methods are divided into 4 categories.

1) Smokers who are not motivated to try to stop smoking:

• Record smoking status at regular intervals
• Anti-smoking advice
• Encourage change in attitude towards smoking to improve motivation

2) Motivated light smokers (< 10/day):

• Anti-smoking advice
• Anti-smoking support programme

3) Motivated heavy smokers (10–15/day):

• As above plus nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (minimum 8 weeks)

4) Motivated heavy smokers (> 15/day):

• As above plus bupropion if NRT and behavioural support are unsuccessful and patient remains motivated

*Based on Coleman T. Smoking cessation: integrating recent advances with clinical practice. Thorax 2001; 56:579–582, with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group

EBM: Smoking cessation

‘Placebo or will-power alone has a ~2% chance of abstinence for ≥ 6 months. This can be increased by the percentage
shown by:
• Written self-help materials: 1%
• Opportunistic advice from doctor: 2%
• Face-to-face behavioural support from specialist: 4–7%
• Proactive telephone counselling: 2%
• NRT with limited or intensive behavioural support: 5–12%
• Bupropion with intensive behavioural support: 9%.

Young female smokers are often motivated more by the desire to ‘stay thin’ or ‘look cool’ than to avoid an illness in middle life. Even if a smoker decides to quit, there are a variety of influences in the wider environment that reduce the chances of sustained success, including peer pressure, cigarette advertising, and finding oneself in circumstances where one previously smoked. The tobacco industry works very hard to maintain and expand the smoking habit, and its advertising budget is much greater than that available to health promoters.

Sometimes it is said that smoking tobacco is the true gateway of all addiction like Cannabis addiction, Alcohol, Meth-amphetamine etc. In the way of quitting any addiction specially smoking- withdrawal symptoms plays great role as hurdle. So if you can overcome withdrawal symptoms, you will be the ultimate gainer.

Strategies to help individuals quit smoking are outlined above. Although the success rates are modest, these interventions are cost-effective and form an important part of the overall anti-tobacco strategy.

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Nevertheless, IBS is the most common cause of gastrointestinal referral and accounts for frequent absenteeism from work and impaired quality of life. Young women are affected 2–3 times more often than men. Coexisting conditions, such as non-ulcer dyspepsia, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysmenorrhoea and fibromyalgia, are common. Between 5 and 10% of patients have a history of physical or sexual abuse.

The cause of IBS is incompletely understood but bio-psychosocial factors are thought to play an important role, along with luminal factors, such as diet and the gut microbiota. For this making diagnosis become tough for physicians.

According to The Rome Foundation–

New diagnostic criteria: “Rome IV Criteria” for IBS

Recurrent abdominal pain at least 1 day per week associated with two or more of the following –

• Related to defecation.
• Onset associated with a change in the frequency of stool.
• Onset associated with a change in the form of stool.

Rome IV expanded upon this concept with an agreed-upon definition: Disorders of gut-brain interaction. These disorders are classified by GI symptoms related to any combination of:

• Motility disturbance
• Visceral hypersensitivity
• Altered mucosal and immune function
• Altered gut microbiota
• Altered central nervous system (CNS) processing

This definition is most consistent with our evolving understanding of multiple pathophysiological processes that, in part or together, determine the symptom features that characterize the Rome classification of disorders.

IBS subtypes:

Subtyping based only on when stools are abnormal consistency in the absence of therapy.

Current subtypes includes-

1. IBS – A [19-49%] (Alternating IBS),
2. IBS – C [19-44%] (IBS with Constipation) and
3. IBS – D [15-36%] (IBS with Diarrhoea)
4. IBS – U (unclassified IBS)

Proportions of patients in each subgroup stable over time but-

• 75% will experience a change in subgroup over time.
• More likely to transition to IBS-C than to IBS-D.
• Transition from IBS-C to IBS-D in less than a third of patients over a year.

Difficulties in diagnosing IBS:

Common comorbidities in IBS-

• Major depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Anxiety
• TMJ disorder
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Painful bladder syndrome/Intestinal cystitis
• Somatoform disorders

Alarm features in patient with suspected IBS:

• Onset of symptoms after age 50
• GI bleeding or Iron deficiency anemia
• Nocturnal diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Family history of organic GI disease (Colorectal cancer, IBD, Celiac disease)

Biomarkers of IBS:

1. Rule out organic diseases that mimic IBS: Cancer, IBD/microscopic colitis, SIBO, Celiac disease, BAM, Food intolerance.
2. Rule in IBS: Biomarker panels based upon abnormalities in pathophysiology (serotonin, permeability, immune activation, etc.). Biomarker based upon prolonged response to enteric infection (anti-CdtB & vinculin antibody).

IBS vs Microscopic colitis:

Favors IBS-

1. Meal related diarrhoea.
2. Intermittent symptoms.
3. Longstanding symptoms.
4. Symptoms with stress.
5. Family history of IBS.

Favors Microscopic colitis-

1. Nocturnal diarrhoea.
2. Unrelenting symptoms.
3. Short symptom duration.
4. New drug in last 1-3 months.
5. Other autoimmuno disorders.

Celiac disease in Patients with IBS symptoms

Breath testing for SIBO in IBS:

• Breath tests are not validated to accurately detect SIBO.
• There is insufficient evidence to recommend lactulose or glucose breath tests to identify SIBO in patients with IBS.

New diagnoses in Rome IV

1) Reflux hypersensitivity syndrome-

• Heartburn or chest pain with normal endoscopy.
• Reflux triggers symptoms despite normal acid exposure.

2) Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome-

• Steriotypical vomiting similar to cyclic vomiting syndrome occurring with excessive cannabis use and symptoms.
• Relieved after discontinution.

3) Opioid induced constipation-

• Development or worsening of constipation symptoms ( hard or infrequent stools, straining, incomplete evacuation) when taking opioids.

4) Narcotic bowel syndrome-

• Progressive and paradoxical increase in abdominal pain despite continued or escalating dosages of opioids prescribed to relieve pain.
• Improves with detoxification.

After reading that, It become very easy to understood and acceptable to clinicians, academicians, regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, and to patients.

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If benefits are strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up, it get to be easier to a weed smoker to quit weed smoking. Yes, health related and other benefits are mighty instead of smoking weed. After quitting weed, about 85% people get rid of symptoms usually within 3 weeks.

A baby born and grow upto a certain age without any addiction, after that he/she may involved with weed any how under bad surroundings or for recreation. Think that, is it essential to grow for the baby? The answer is No. So, try to understand that what is essential for your life and what’s not.

We are going to show 10 valuable things about benefits of quitting weed. Do you want to know?

• Restoration of Brain Function
• Physical Improvements
• Increase Judgement Power
• Changing Way of Thinking
• More Confidence and Glossy Imagination
• Quitting nicotine at the same time
• Skin and Beauty benefits
• Increases Love and Emotion
• Raising Humanity
• Enhance Self Respect

Lets go for details:

1) Restoration of Brain Function: 

You know that THC (main ingredient of cannabis) can acts by binding with cannabinoid receptors which present in certain area of your brain. Following exposure, it start to decrease your memory and learning function (Hippocampus) and inability of fine movement activities (Cerebellum). After quitting weed, you will be able to gain sharp memory and skillful activities in daily work.

2. Physical Benefits of Quitting Weed: 

When you will quit marijuana –

• Relief Anxiety and Palpitation: Your Heart will be able to work smoothly – normal rate and rhythm and provide adequate nutrition to all cells of body. You will feel cool.
• Make You Energetic: Your Lungs will be able to work perfectly in supplying adequate oxygen to the body instead of carbon-monoxide, THC and others. All cells of your body, make more energy by using oxygen and make you strong enough to overcome anything.
• Keep You Away From Insomnia: Sleep is more important for rest of your brain and it is natural. It keeps mind always clear. If you choose a way for sleep against nature, it will destroy you. Make your day productive as you dream, sleep will come with dream.
• Improve Your Anorexia: Although medical use of marijuana may try to improve anorexia in some severe anorexic diseases like cancer, but it causes anorexia if you over use it in healthy state. After quitting weed, the original taste of tongue come back within few weeks.
• Better Digestion of Food: The part of body that provide nutrition from ingested foods known to you as Alimentary system. The function of this system intensified when you quit weed.
• Regular Bowel and Bladder Habit: After quitting weed, your constipation and micturation difficulties improves more than as you deserve.
• Make You More Fertile Beyond Imagination: In most of the cases, fertile couples become unable to get baby when they continuously using weed. It is medically proved that, weed smoking decrease your sperm count and make less fertile sperm. You should decide that what you need to do before getting a baby.

3. Increase Judgement Power :

The judgement power helps you to know about what to do and what you are doing. During high mode, it is very hard to use this sense perfectly. After quitting, this judgment power increases and make you more acceptable in the family and as well as society.

4. Changing Way of Thinking:

This is noticed by you that thinking during high mood and after come from it are totally different. Impossible things that makes you feel batter usually dreamed during high. But you can make your dream come true, if you think without high. After leaving pot, you will able to get things done what you dream.

5. More Confidence and Glossy Imagination:

Confidence only grow after completing something successfully. A confident person always influenced by own glossy imagination. When you overcome to quit weed, you become more confident in your practical life and glossy imagination start to grow within you. So, its time to become confident without high.

6. Quitting Nicotine at The Same Time:

It has been said that using marijuana is a gait-way to other many addiction like smoking, drug abusing etc. So, if marijuana use stopped by you, all gait of addiction will close permanently. It will be easier for you to quit smoking at the same time.

7. Skin and Beauty Benefits of Quitting Weed:

THC increase Testosterone (male predominant hormone but present also less amount in female) level in both sexes. That increase oily secretions from glands of your skin leads to oily and rough skin. Raised testosterone level may causes hair loss (signs of high testosterone level). On the other hand, a lot of free radicals enters into body during smoking, that may rise to skin tumors or even cancer. So, decide that what is important for you. Glossiness of skin naturally raised by eating Vitamin-E (tochopherol) containing foods like sunflower oil, Almonds. For this, Vitamin-E called Vitamin of Youth.

8. Increases Love and Emotion:

Bonding between members of your family linked by love and lots of emotions. Without love a strong bond between family members is not possible. Long term use of weed makes you introvert and keep you away from your family. So, leave weed and enjoy family life with love and expectations.

9. Raising Humanity:

Remember one thing that you are a Human being. What ever you do, if you do nothing for mankind – there is no difference between you and a beast. Any addiction – will grasp your humanity. After quitting marijuana, you are able to grow mankind such as you can save money instead of smoking weed and use it for the mankind. It will also bring inner peace of your mind which weed never will… This one is best part of benefits of quitting weed.

10. Enhance Self Respect:

Weed smokers always neglected by family members and society. Although you may be a ‘productive’ person in your society, but at the end of the day when you think about it – you feel ashamed. Following exposure, a respected person become disrespected, which also reduces self respect. Self respect will be increased if you quit weed and lead a healthy addiction free life.

We are trying utmost to make you understand about Benefits of Quitting Weed. You need to decide that whether you are a part of solution, or a part of problem in your family as well as of your society. You have to turn your weakness into strengths and be honored.

Related Articles:

•  How to ease cannabis withdrawal symptoms and anxiety?
• 20 Ways to quit smoking weed while pregnant!
• Smoking Cessation: Anti-Tobacco Strategy

The post 10 Amazing Benefits Of Quitting Weed That Will Surprise You appeared first on Healthtion - Ways to Quit Marijuana - Attain Healthy Productive Life.

Does smoking weed causes harm to fetus? When should they stop weed smoking during pregnancy? How to quit smoking weed during pregnancy? and so many others.

So, if you are looking for the answers of such questions and need proper guide to quit smoking weed during pregnancy, you are on the right place.

The maternal bond between a human female and her biological child usually begins to develop during pregnancy. A women become happiest person in the world after knowing that she is going to be a mother. She finds a sign of life within her and adapts her life style to suit the needs of the developing baby.

At around 16 to 20 weeks, fetus kicks mother for the first time and mother begins to feel the fetus moving. This is the first feeling that influence a mother to give birth her baby without any complications. Baby listens to mom and mom to baby through out whole pregnancy, often even subconsciously. This relationship between mother and baby is the foundation for a child’s sense of security, trust, and independence, even as they grow into adults.

What a mom eats, smokes and also puts on her skin that directly or indirectly affects her baby. Healthy things like iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamins etc, helps fetus to develop quickly, perfectly and without any physical defect. On the other hand, Unhealthy things like any kind of smoking, p0isons or even unprescribed drugs may affect fetal health abruptly. For this, A mother become very conscious about her baby during pregnancy.

Marijuana is one substance that can affect developing fetus or even after birth it may leave a sign with permanent defect.

Although babies whose mothers smoked marijuana are not always born with birth defects, but it can increase risk for pregnancy related complications of baby and as well as mother. There is no women in the world who take risk complications of her baby during pregnancy, but she can take risk of her health instead of babies complications.

First trimester means first 12 weeks of pregnancy, is more vulnerable time for fetal structural defect. Because in this period fetal structure is formed. For this, mother need more consciousness during first trimester. Ultrasound scan can reveal structural defect within this period.

To quit smoking pot for saving fetal life you need some more consciousness. First is first, it doesn’t matter which stage of pregnancy you are in, all matters is you need to quit it right now. The following ways may helpful for you and your baby if you can apply in your practical life.

1. Find Your Reason to Quit Smoking Weed During Pregnancy:

   You need a powerful, personal reason to get motivation in order to quit. It will protect your baby from birth defect or lower the chance of getting low birth weight baby, premature birth or may even stillbirth. Choose a reason that is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up.

   

2. Understand The Threat:

   Smoking marijuana during pregnancy can cause health problems with both baby and mom. It  causes impaired baby’s growth due to inadequate oxygen to baby, increase in the chance of ectopic pregnancy and there can be complications with the placenta that can lead to fetal death. Maternal health problems included depression, anxiety, panic attack, short term memory loss and “Acute Cannabis Toxicity” that may lead to death.

   

3. Attain Benefits:

   Smoking cannabis just makes your mind better, nothing else. But you can make your mind by doing other several things. Like as reading noble books, thinking about future of your little one, giving priority of your hobbies and so many others. There are benefits to quitting smoking weed at any stage of your pregnancy. If you quit now, your risk of having a low birth weight baby will be similar to that of a non-smoker mother. Quitting now also increases the chances your baby’s lungs working capacity.

   

4. Avoiding Misconceptions:

   Many pregnant women mistakenly think that, otherwise smoking – vaping or eating marijuana doesn’t harm their baby. But these preparations still have THC, the active ingredient of marijuana. As a result, they can harm to the fetus without proper knowledge.

   

5. Improve Self Belief:

   Most of the pot smoking pregnant women belief that it doesn’t cause harm to their fetus. But it was proven that THC affects fetal growth and risk of miscarriage is more then non-smoker mother. Quitting herb does not put extra stress on your baby. It is one of the best things that you can do for your health and your baby’s health –  during development in the womb and after born.

   

6. Medical Use and Pregnancy:

   Although marijuana has some medicinal use to treat some complicated diseases, women hoping to become pregnant or who are pregnant are typically advised against using marijuana. Many other medicines have been better studied in relation to use in pregnancy to treat those diseases.

   

7. Prepare You Go Before “Cold Turkey”:

   There’s more to it than just throwing your weed out. Smoking weed is an addiction. The brain is hooked on THC. Without it, your body will go through withdrawal. Set up support in advance. Ask your doctor about all the strategies that will help, such as quit weed-smoking classes and apps, counseling, medication, and hypnosis. Prepare yourself for the day you select to quit marijuana.

   

8. Lean On Your Loved Ones:

   Tell your friends, family, and other people that you’re trying to quit weed. They will support you mentally to make it happen, especially when you’re triggered to light up. You can also join online forums  like TheBump, WhatToExpect, or talk to a counselor. “Cognitive Behavioral therapy” is a type of counseling that helps you stick to quit weed-smoking strategies. After a few sessions might help successfully.

   

9. Give Yourself a Break:

   The main reason for smoking weed is that it makes a person feel relax. Once you quit, you’ll need new ways to unwind. There are many options. You can do light exercise to blow off steam, tune in to your favorite music, chat with friends or make time for a hobby like visiting places that you love, gardening, cooking your favorite dish. But one thing should remember that all journeys are not safe during pregnancy except rail-journey.

   

10. Avoid Triggers:

    Try to avoid stressful situations and peers during the first few weeks after you stop weed smoking. Give time to your unborn baby, avoid nicotine and make habit of walking in fresh air.

    

11. Fruits and Vegetables:

    Fresh fruits containing Iron, folic acid like apples, orange, banana, guava and  green leafy vegetables  helps to increase blood cell count and improve constipation.

    

12. Healthy Replacement Activity:

    When you go Cold Turkey, you most likely to feel down and depressed. It’s time to find recreation in other activity. You can spend time by watching a movie that makes you laugh, hangout with somebody who make you feel happy. Remember, you can’t just change your smoking habit by doing ordinary activity, it has to be a healthy activity.

    .

13. Do Something New:

    When you eliminate smoking pot from  your daily routine, your day might become boring so you need to change it. Everyday you need to do something new, in a word “keep yourself busy”. Try getting up early in the morning, eat something new for breakfast, go to work using a different route, try to change your work schedule, eat something different for lunch. You have to make your life more exciting by doing new things, or at least doing things differently.
    

    

14. Pregnancy and Withdrawals:

    Withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, tremor etc, usually disappears within 1st week physically. But most people may notice few symptoms upto 3 weeks. Within this period you must need to avoid things related to marijuana. Think always about what would be better for your little star. If you think about weed, it will grasp your mind again.

    

15. Long Term Benefits:

    One remarkable study reported that, women who were given counseling during the pregnancy to stop smoking weed remained smoke free after the birth of their baby in most cases. If lactating mother smoke weed, her baby may be affected because THC secrete through breast milk also. So, in the long run it will save your money, improve your social appearance and also helps you to stay healthy.

    

16. Regular Sleep Rhythm:

    As a pregnant mother you need regular sleep at-least 8 hours in a day. Weed smoker usually have irregular sleep rhythm. After quitting weed you need to maintain your sleep rhythm. It just like choosing better root to go a destination. If you go to bed everyday at a fixed time like 10:00 pm, it will become habit within 1 to 2 weeks. You may use safe sedatives (Phenobarbitone) during pregnancy with the help of your doctor.

    

17. Creating Favorable Surroundings:

    Make your surrounding environment beautiful that keeps your mind smooth and colorful. Like keeping favorite flowers in your bed side flower vase, images of cute kids at the wall, changing room color and decoration etc.

    

18. Grow Humanity:

    A person without humanity like a beast. Humanity is the reflection of your hidden soul. If u do any things for betterment of people, you will feel peace that comes from your inner soul. Everyday try to do at least one thing for mankind. like helping poor, donating in orphan or disabled charity, helping other peoples to quit drug abuse etc.

    

19. Try and Try Again:

    At the end of the day, if you fall within grasp of weed then don’t become depressed and keep your mind strong enough to overcome it. Unless you destroy the seed of evil, it will destroy you. To know how to quit smoking weed during pregnancy is not as important as to know why to quit. Everything is possible if you just try hard and solely.

    

20. Mysterious Weed Related Illness During Pregnancy:

    Pregnancy itself is a hyper-emetic condition. Pregnant mother with smoking  weed sometimes present us in emergency department with severe abdominal pain with violent vomiting  and most doctors are initially confused with other medical conditions present like that. The illness is known as “Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome”, which is likely to occur in heavy and long-term use of weed.

    

    An idea dies unless it acted upon, the quiet knowledge if you don’t use – you lose. So, try to use your knowledge to save you and your upcoming little moon. A women feels complete and gratified when she become success to give birth of a healthy baby after sacrificing about 9 months. We wish that – after understanding our 20 ways to quit smoking weed during pregnancy,  you feels complete and gratified.

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