You might be surprised, but smokers have an increased risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Because smoking lowers the supply of oxygen in the blood, including that which flows to the hand and wrist, smoking increases the chance of getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Smokers also have an increased risk of capillary tightening and inflammation. Therefore, if you smoke, quitting smoking can greatly reduce your chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome flareups if you don't yet have them, and can reduce their severity if you already have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Unfortunately, smoking is very, very difficult to quit for many of those who do. Smoking has been called one of the most addictive habits in the world, similar to heroin addiction, in fact. It's so addictive that those who smoke do so even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it's extremely unhealthy. And although many light up with a smile on their faces, many do so with guilt. Smoking can relax smokers, and it can give them a burst of energy both mentally and physically that helps them stay calm under pressure. Many people who smoke also like the taste of the tobacco and in fact consider smoking a sensual experience. State and local governments have begun to take advantage of this smoking addiction by taxing cigarettes and other tobacco products significantly and thus helping to fill state coffers. Those who support high cigarettes and tobacco product taxes defend their position by saying that such high taxes will cause people to voluntarily quit smoking, even though this isn't true for many people. In fact, relatively few people have quit smoking at least to the present time because of these taxes. Nonetheless, governments continue to impose them because it brings in monies. The fact that smokers continue to smoke even in the face of these high taxes only underscores how hard it can be to quit smoking.
Making the decision to quit smoking is difficult for anyone, and it's compounded by the fact that no two people are absolutely alike, so that one method that will help one person quit smoking is going to be completely useless to another. To that end, many different methods have been formulated to help people quit smoking.
One product on the market that has helped many smokers quit is the nicotine patch. The nicotine patch delivers a small but steady dose of nicotine in transdermal fashion, into the bloodstream so that the smoker who is trying to quit as their nicotine cravings subdued somewhat. It's thought that if nicotine is continually supplied to the body (even though a different method and at a lower dosage than that gotten through cigarettes), it takes the edge off the cravings just enough that smokers stand a good chance of quitting smoking. Some nicotine patch programs utilize a "step down" method, whereby decreasing dosages of nicotine or delivered over a period of time as the program continues. And indeed, the nicotine patch has been shown to be quite effective, with up to 55% of people using them having the ability to quit. However, patches aren't cheap and many people don't like having to wear them. In addition, they can be irritating to the skin, and it can be inconvenient to have to remember to change the patch every day. Beyond that, the nicotine patch only addresses the nicotine addiction, not the other reasons smokers smoke.
Other people take the psychological approach to quitting smoking. They may do a "build down" program where they slowly start smoking one to five fewer cigarettes per day than normal. Once they become comfortable with a new level, they lower it a little bit more, until they reach the point where they only smoke a few cigarettes per day and from there go on to quit. Others have quit by keeping an unopened pack in their garage or house and then making themselves quit cold (knowing that the pack is always there "just in case").
There are also those who have developed supplements, whether herbal or other "natural" supplements, to help people quit smoking. Again, these do work for some people, but quitting itself is a crapshoot for many smokers, and no one method works for everyone.
If you have trouble tunnel syndrome and you don't want to try to quit smoking to help resolve it, there are also exercises you can do that will diminish the symptoms if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, and that will help prevent it if you don't have it yet. In addition, doing the exercises even if you have carpal tunnels syndrome may help reverse damage even if it's already been done. Give them a try; you can look them up and try them out to see if this reduces your symptoms. - 29957
Unfortunately, smoking is very, very difficult to quit for many of those who do. Smoking has been called one of the most addictive habits in the world, similar to heroin addiction, in fact. It's so addictive that those who smoke do so even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it's extremely unhealthy. And although many light up with a smile on their faces, many do so with guilt. Smoking can relax smokers, and it can give them a burst of energy both mentally and physically that helps them stay calm under pressure. Many people who smoke also like the taste of the tobacco and in fact consider smoking a sensual experience. State and local governments have begun to take advantage of this smoking addiction by taxing cigarettes and other tobacco products significantly and thus helping to fill state coffers. Those who support high cigarettes and tobacco product taxes defend their position by saying that such high taxes will cause people to voluntarily quit smoking, even though this isn't true for many people. In fact, relatively few people have quit smoking at least to the present time because of these taxes. Nonetheless, governments continue to impose them because it brings in monies. The fact that smokers continue to smoke even in the face of these high taxes only underscores how hard it can be to quit smoking.
Making the decision to quit smoking is difficult for anyone, and it's compounded by the fact that no two people are absolutely alike, so that one method that will help one person quit smoking is going to be completely useless to another. To that end, many different methods have been formulated to help people quit smoking.
One product on the market that has helped many smokers quit is the nicotine patch. The nicotine patch delivers a small but steady dose of nicotine in transdermal fashion, into the bloodstream so that the smoker who is trying to quit as their nicotine cravings subdued somewhat. It's thought that if nicotine is continually supplied to the body (even though a different method and at a lower dosage than that gotten through cigarettes), it takes the edge off the cravings just enough that smokers stand a good chance of quitting smoking. Some nicotine patch programs utilize a "step down" method, whereby decreasing dosages of nicotine or delivered over a period of time as the program continues. And indeed, the nicotine patch has been shown to be quite effective, with up to 55% of people using them having the ability to quit. However, patches aren't cheap and many people don't like having to wear them. In addition, they can be irritating to the skin, and it can be inconvenient to have to remember to change the patch every day. Beyond that, the nicotine patch only addresses the nicotine addiction, not the other reasons smokers smoke.
Other people take the psychological approach to quitting smoking. They may do a "build down" program where they slowly start smoking one to five fewer cigarettes per day than normal. Once they become comfortable with a new level, they lower it a little bit more, until they reach the point where they only smoke a few cigarettes per day and from there go on to quit. Others have quit by keeping an unopened pack in their garage or house and then making themselves quit cold (knowing that the pack is always there "just in case").
There are also those who have developed supplements, whether herbal or other "natural" supplements, to help people quit smoking. Again, these do work for some people, but quitting itself is a crapshoot for many smokers, and no one method works for everyone.
If you have trouble tunnel syndrome and you don't want to try to quit smoking to help resolve it, there are also exercises you can do that will diminish the symptoms if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, and that will help prevent it if you don't have it yet. In addition, doing the exercises even if you have carpal tunnels syndrome may help reverse damage even if it's already been done. Give them a try; you can look them up and try them out to see if this reduces your symptoms. - 29957
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