Is it about time for you to kick that bad habit?
More and more studies are coming out every day that shed light on the dangers of tobacco. Tobacco use is the second leading cause of death worldwide and is responsible for 1 in every 10 deaths in adults. So, join the millions who’ve kicked the habit and are on the path for a longer and healthier life.
Quitting a nicotine addiction is one of the hardest things anyone has to do. Here are some facts about nicotine that most people don’t know:
-Nicotine addiction is stronger and lasts longer than most people realize because smoking changes the structure and function of your brain.
-For some people, nicotine can be as addictive as cocaine or heroin.
-Nicotine causes a release of dopamine into the brain, resulting in feelings of pleasure. Heroin and “crack” have the same effects on the brain.
-A study found over 90% of those who tried to quit “cold turkey” were smoking again within 6 months.
The good news is that knowledge is power, we can each grow smarter than our addiction is strong, and full recovery is entirely do-able for all. In fact, today there are more ex-smokers in the U.S. than smokers.
While the first few days may feel like an emotional train wreck, beyond them, with each passing day the challenges grow fewer, generally less intense and shorter in duration. Recovery leads to a calm and quiet mind where addiction chatter and wanting gradually fade into rarity, where the ex-user begins going days, weeks or even months without once wanting for nicotine. Recovery is good, not bad. It needs to be embraced not feared. The good news is that everything done while under nicotine’s influence can be done as well or better without it.
While no cure, there is only one rule that if followed provides a 100% guarantee of success in arresting it — no nicotine today.
And if you’re ready to quit, we can help. Part B covers free counseling sessions as a preventive service to help you quit smoking—you pay nothing if your doctor accepts Medicare’s payment.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with an illness caused or made worse by tobacco use or you take a medicine affected by tobacco, you can continue to get up to 8 face-to-face counseling visits every 12 months. You pay your Part B deductible, and 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. If you get counseling in a hospital outpatient setting, you also pay the hospital a copayment. Often times a Medigap insurance plan can cover these costs. To find a Medigap insurance plan, try our free Medigap quote form.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and the National Cancer Institute to learn more about tobacco use and how you can overcome it. And after that, come visit us here at MedicareMall where we take the mystery out of Medicare.
Kick That Bad Habit © 2012 MedicareMall.com