Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, yet despite knowing about the damaging effects of smoking on their own health, many smokers cannot seem to quit. They rationalize their addiction by assuming they are only hurting themselves when they smoke. In actuality, smoking also influences the health of people who don't smoke. Friends, children, family , co-workers, and even casual bystanders may suffer health problems from passive smoke.

First off, what is passive smoking? You may have heard of the term "secondhand smoke" to describe smoke inhaled by someone near a smoker. Secondhand smoke is a mixture of smoke from a burning pipe, cigar, or cigarette, and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. It often contains higher amounts of harmful chemicals than inhaled smoke, for example, twice as much tar and nicotine. This puts people exposed to secondhand smoke at an increased risk of smoking related diseases and health issues.

Research into the effects of passive smoking show increased risks for lung disease, heart disease , and various illnesses for people constantly exposed to secondhand smoke. Statistics on smoking show a relationship between secondhand smoke and cancer, with those exposed to secondhand smoke having an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease . Sadly, it is not unusual for the nonsmoking child or spouse of a smoker to develop illnesses associated with smoking because of long-term exposure to secondhand smoke.

Passive smoking is especially bad for infants and children. Infants and children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of respiratory infections and other respiratory illnesses. Asthmatic children are at an increased risk of having more frequent attacks. Passive smoking may also be responsible for raising a pregnant woman's risk of having a miscarriage or a low birth weight baby.

Due to the health effects of secondhand smoke, smoking has been outlawed in many public areas, such as restaurants and bars. Passive smoking can also be a problem in the workplace. Workers who inhale secondhand smoke have a higher risk of illness and even miss more days of work. This has led many workplaces to ban smoking on the premises, and some areas have even passed legislation against smoking at work. Among jobs with a smoking ban, employers report increased productivity and fewer absences.

Typically, most smokers begin searching for ways to quit smoking out of concern for the health of their family. There are several methods to stop smoking, and one of the quickest ways is through the use of a specially formulated hypnosis program. Hypnotherapy programs for quitting smoking are developed specifically to help smokers stop smoking without going through withdrawal. They are especially effective because they help smokers beat the psychological aspect of the addiction , which is the most difficult part to beat.

Self-hypnosis programs for quitting smoking are developed to teach people self-hypnosis techniques to help quit smoking. One of the best things about such a program is the fact that smokers learn how to stop smoking without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Hypnotic techniques can reduce or even completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced using other methods of quitting smoking. Another good thing is that since people learn how to perform hypnosis techniques on themselves, they do not have to worry about having a relapse. If they ever feel the urge to smoke, they just recall and utilize the techniques that helped them quit.

Hypnotherapy produces many effects to help people quit smoking. It is a powerful tool for ending smoking cravings while also acting as a relaxation tool to reduce stress and tension. It also functions as a tool for encouragement to completely eliminate the psychological urge to smoke. This variety of effects gives hypnosis its high rate of success in helping people to quit smoking once and for all.

Stop smoking benefits include improved health for the former smoker as well as for family , friends, and co-workers. People who are looking to stop smoking out of concern for their families can turn to hypnotherapy for a useful and non-invasive tool for quitting smoking. Anyone can learn self-hypnosis techniques for quitting from a good hypnosis program, and hypnotherapy for smoking cessation has a high rate of success because it makes the process of quitting smoking easier and faster.

Author's Bio: 

Alan B. Densky, CH is a pioneer in the use of Ericksonian stop smoking Hypnotherapy CDs. He offers both audio hypnotherapy CDs, and Neuro-VISION video hypnosis to stop smoking DVDs. Visit his self hypnosis for self help site for free hypnosis resources & videos.