creators home
creators.com lifestyle web

Recently

Yearly, 7,000 Lives Are Saved DR. WALLACE: I'd like to know why we have a stupid law in the United States that requires a person to reach age 21 before legally consuming a drop of alcohol. I am a college freshman at Miami University in Florida and if I have a glass of wine at …Read more. Outside Lockers Save School Money DR. WALLACE: Lately, someone has been breaking into student lockers and stealing things. Sometimes I leave expensive things in my locker, and I would be very upset if they were stolen. But if they were, would the school be responsible to reimburse …Read more. Tell Your Friend the Bad News DR. WALLACE: My cousin Ted is going with my best friend, Karen, and I thought they were a great couple, but now I'm not so sure. I know she really is in love with him, and she thinks he loves her, too. Well, last Sunday, we had a big family reunion …Read more. Allow Your New Mom the Opportunity DR. WALLACE: We are 16-year-old twins and live with our dad. Our parents divorced, and our dad remarried. Now we have a new mother after not having one for four years. My dad never disciplined us, so we always got to do whatever we wanted. If my …Read more.
more articles

Stop Smoking and Here's What Happens

Share Comment

DR. WALLACE: Some time ago, you wrote a column about the changes that take place once a smoker decides to stop smoking. It was informative, but it wasn't important for our family. Now it is. About a year ago, our 20-year-old son started working at a steel mill located in our city. After a month on the job, he started smoking.

My husband and I were upset with his decision, but we didn't lecture him on the evils of tobacco. It was his decision to start smoking, and it had to be his decision to stop. Last week, he told my husband and me that he was "thinking" about quitting his tobacco habit. Will you please print the positive body changes a person experiences when a he or she stops smoking. I want to share this information with Corey. - Mother, Youngstown, Ohio.

MOTHER: I'm sure that Corey is addicted to nicotine, so it will take a dedicated effort on his part to eliminate his smoking habit. I hope this information will encourage him to do just that! Once Corey decides to stop smoking, here's what will happen:

- Twenty minutes after smoking his last cigarette, his blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal.

- Within eight hours, the carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in the blood return to normal and smoker's breath disappears.

- Within three days, he'll start to breathe easier.

- Within one to nine months, he'll feel more energetic and cough less, and the cilia that sweep debris from his lungs will grow back.

- Within two years, his risk of heart attack drops to near normal.

- And finally, within five years, the lung cancer risk drops by half.

- You might mention to Corey that besides being healthier, he will also be wealthier when the smoke is gone.

 

I CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP

DR.

WALLACE: I went with Kenny for a year before we broke up six months ago. I have been trying to get over him, but I can't. We occasionally see each other, but he is now dating another girl. Even though I have never met this girl, I hate her. I love Kenny so much that I cry myself to sleep almost every night. I try to tell myself that he is a jerk and will hurt me, but this just doesn't work. It's just not fair that one human being can love someone so much and that someone couldn't care less. You can see the fix I'm in. I really need some advice. - Lynnette, Erie, Pa.

LYNNETTE: You've got to let Kenny go. By staying home and feeling sorry for yourself, you're just prolonging the agony. Start getting involved in activities at school, at church or in your community. Stay busy and meet new friends. When you get your life back, you'll be happy to say, "Kenny who?" when you are asked about your ex.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM


Comments

1 Comments | Post Comment
Hey,

I am 23 and have just started to quit smoking. One technique which is helping me massively is BLOGGING about my experience. This not only helps keep me motivated, but I am getting a lot of support which is great. It's also actually very fun, and helps keep my mind off smoking.

So ye I suggest starting a blog or atleast a diary! Trust me it works.

Good luck, if anyone needs any help setting up a blog get in touch

Jess

xxx
Comment: #1
Posted by: Jess
Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:39 PM
Already have an account? Log in.
New Account  
Your Name:
Your E-mail:
Your Password:
Confirm Your Password:

Please allow a few minutes for your comment to be posted.

Enter the numbers to the right:  
Creators.com comments policy
More
Dr. Robert Wallace
May. `12
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
29 30 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
About the author About the author
Write the author Write the author
Printer friendly format Printer friendly format
Email to friend Email to friend
View by Month