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Smokers who want to quit smoking often ask, “Is there any easy way to quit smoking?” The answer to that question is no. Anybody that tells a smoker that quitting smoking is easy is not telling the truth. Even with a good smoking cessation aid, quitting smoking is a challenging endeavor.

The reason that quitting smoking is so tough is because the nicotine in cigarettes is very addicting. Nicotine causes a flood of neurochemicals to hit the brain’s pleasure centers, which in turn creates very pleasurable sensations. Nicotine stimulates people, while at the same time it relaxes them. Most people find it very pleasurable to be both stimulated and relaxed at the same time. However, the brain responds to nicotine by down regulating the normal flow of neurochemicals because the brain tries to compensate for the artificial stimulation caused by nicotine. However, when nicotine is removed from the body, the brain does not immediately respond by up regulating the flow of neurochemicals. The result is that people addicted to nicotine begin to experience the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Typical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, and depressed mood. For many smokers, the symptoms can be almost unbearable, which is the reason why so many smokers have a hard time quitting.

The statistics prove that there is no easy way to quit smoking. Smokers who try the “cold turkey” approach are the least successful. Less than ten percent (10%) of smokers are able to stop smoking using the “cold turkey” method. Many smoking cessation products have a better success rate than the “cold turkey” approach. However, even the best smoking cessation products have a success rate lower than fifty percent (50%).

Of course, the dismal success rates are no reason for giving up. Given how bad smoking is for people’s health, smokers should never stop trying to quit. But, smokers need to realize that quitting smoking is no easy task. As the old saying goes,” nothing worth doing is easy.”

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There is no current cure for diabetes although several treatments are available. Treatments include, diet plans, insulin injection, oral medication or surgery depending upon the type of diabetes. The proper management of treatments for diabetes helps diabetics maintain a normal way of life.

Diabetes has three specific types: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.  

Is there a possible cure for diabetes type 1?

In type 1 diabetes, the islet cells of the pancreas in charge of producing insulin is being destroyed by the immune system of the body. Hence, the production of insulin by the pancreas is affected or the pancreas no longer produces insulin. The cause is still unidentified but this is often attributed to viral infections or disorder in the genes.

This is treated by a daily dose of insulin injection, an insulin pump or the insulin jet system. Oral medication as a treatment for type 1 diabetes is not applicable since it still has to pass the digestive system before it can take effect in the blood.

The currently suggested cure for type 1 diabetes are pancreas transplant, islet cell transplantation or stem cell transplant. Individuals who have undergone these surgical treatments as part of clinical tests, are still under evaluation for possible re-development of immunity rejection and its ability to maintain adequate number of insulin cells that can meet insulin requirements as well as keep new cells alive.

Other new treatments like synthetic human insulin, insulin analogs, genetic manipulation,  BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, gastric bypass surgery and computerized artificial pancreas are still undergoing human clinical trials and study, in the hopes of finally determining if there is a cure for diabetes.

The drug BCG is said to have been tried and tested for 80 years now. Hence, if human clinical tests can prove this drug to be successful, the availability of a cheap generic drug to administer is possible.

Is there a possible cure for diabetes type 2?

Majority of diabetics are suffering from type 2 diabetes. This is due to insulin resistance of the body brought about by the inability of the cells to react to insulin or the production of insulin is not sufficient to control the blood glucose.

This is familiar among older people, obese individuals or persons with weight problems, due to their physical inactivity. Treatment initially requires diet control, exercise and oral medication to avoid progression into becoming type 1 diabetes. In the event that it does progress, treatment will then require insulin injection.

Similarly, there is also no cure for type 2 diabetes, hence, proper management of its treatments is necessary to avoid the progression of the disease.   

This type of diabetes may also crop up in pregnant women known as gestational diabetes and may take place in the last months of pregnancy. Although considered as not life-threatening and may disappear after giving birth, the mother is already deemed prone to type 2 diabetes.

Once an individual becomes afflicted with diabetes mellitus, it will become a part of his or her life and can even be a cause of death. Adequate knowledge in managing this disease can help the patient live longer.

Management includes lifestyle change, nutrition plan, physical activity and having a diabetes team to supervise the daily medications and monitoring. Other than the doctor, nurse, dietitian and healthcare professional, one should include a diabetes educator as part of the diabetes team. The diabetes educator will be responsible for the psychological needs of the patient and in providing assistance for some of the clinical requirements.

In as much as the elusive cure for diabetes is still undergoing further researches and clinical tests, management of the diseases is still the best way for the diabetic sufferers.

Those who are not yet afflicted with diabetes but are engaged in a lifestyle that may develop their body system into becoming one, it is best for them to consider the necessary changes in their way of eating and living to prevent diabetes from having control over their lives.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and diabetes natural treatment. Discover how you can reverse your diabetes for good using proven and effective home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.minusdiabetes.com

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Most of us have heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, or that you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day. But how much truth is there to such old wives’ health tips?

Growing up hearing certain sayings and tips resulted in many of us believing that they’re all true. But certain “common knowledge” health tips are actually relative to each individual, while others are not true at all. For example, many of us as teenagers heard that chocolate was a cause of acne. And, in fact, this “health tip” continues to circulate among both teenagers and adults today.

However, the truth is that acne is not caused by any specific type of food, including chocolate. Acne is, in fact, beyond your biological control, as it’s linked to the levels of testosterone in your body. So, rather than foregoing chocolate to keep your skin clear, a more effective way to combat acne is to cleanse your skin regularly to clear bacteria, or to use specialized acne medications.

Another common health tip is that you should drink eight glasses of water a day. While this is an estimate for the average person, the truth is that bodies differ when it comes to water intake requirements, and depend on various factors such as health, how active you are and where you live.

You may ask yourself how much water should I drink every day and while there is no set rule as to how much water you should be drinking every day, there are a few ways to estimate what your own requirements are.

One way is to use the “replacement approach”. Adults typically lose 1.5 litres of fluid a day through urination, as well as an additional litre through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food, however, usually provides around 20 per cent of one’s total fluid intake. That said, if the average person consumes 2 litres of water per day, along with a normal diet, they should technically replace their lost fluids.

Another way to determine your water intake requirement is to take your weight in pounds and divide it by two. Whatever number you end up with is the number of ounces of water you should consume each day. Again, if you’re particularly active or live in a warmer region, your intake should technically increase for both estimation methods.

Among the most popular health tips out there is that an apple a day keeps the doctor away – a tip that’s only partially true. Apples are full of vitamin C and polyphones, and they promote healthy teeth and gums. However, the obvious truth is that apples alone won’t keep you from getting ill. Instead, your body requires a balanced diet to stay healthy.

Another health tip that’s only partially true is that carrots are good for eyesight. In fact, most people believe that carrots are the best food for maintaining and improving eyesight. However, while carrots are full of beta carotene and vitamin A – which are both good for vision – there are certainly foods that are even better for the eyes – such as spinach and other leafy greens.

Last but not least, you’ve likely heard the saying that you can never be too safe when it comes to looking after your health. Again, this is a tip that’s only partially true. While it’s not healthy to be obsessive with health measures such as keeping germs away, you do want to safeguard your health in good measure. One example of this is securing health insurance. Health insurance is just one way to protect yourself in the event that something does goes wrong, but it certainly won’t inhibit you from living your life.

So, next time you hear an old wives’ tale, take it with a grain of salt – then consider what’s right and best for you.

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