Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Cigarette warning labels can influence smokers to try to quit even when they are trying to avoid seeing the labels, according to a new study. The survey of thousands of adult smokers in four countries found that small, text-only warning labels like those on cigarette packs in the US prompt people to think about health risks of smoking, and people who notice the warnings regularly are more likely to try to quit. Larger, more graphic warning labels like those in other countries, such as Australia, were better at getting people's attention and motivating them to attempt quitting. 'Warning labels vary widely from country to country but it's clear that once people see the labels, the same psychological and emotional processes are involved in making people consider quitting smoking,' said the study's lead author, Hua-Hie Yong, of the Cancer Council Victoria in Australia.
For smokers who said they paid attention to the labels, simply seeing them was enough to make them think about the health risks of smoking, which made them less likely to smoke. People who didn't think much about the health risks were more likely to say that those risks were exaggerated. They were also more likely to say that they enjoyed smoking too much to give it up, according to the study. However, smokers who consciously avoided the labels by covering them up or by keeping them out of sight still reported thinking often about the health risks and about quitting. (Read: 10 reasons smoking is bad for you)
'This just goes to prove the idea that the more one tries not to think of something, the more one tends to focus on it,' said Yong. Researchers conducted telephone surveys of over 5,000 smokers in the US, Australia, Canada and the UK from 2007 to 2009, and then followed up with them one year later. Smokers answered a series of questions, including how many cigarettes they smoked a day and how often they noticed warning labels on cigarette packages. Researchers also asked them if warning labels made them think about smoking's health risks, if the labels made them think about quitting and if they actively tried to avoid looking at the warnings.
The researchers then asked if they were considering quitting and, at the one-year follow-up, if they had attempted to quit. They collected other demographic information, such as gender, age and education level. The sample came from the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, a longitudinal study assessing the impact of tobacco control policies around the world. (Read: Read how this guy went from 20 cigarettes a day to zero! (Get inspired to quit smoking))
How to identify and beat your smoking triggers?
The first smoking experience by a few 7th grade students were revealed during a study conducted by Jennifer O' Laughlin and her colleagues. The most common factors mentioned were cigarette advertisements, smoking by parents, siblings and friends who encourage them to smoke.
'Put it out before it puts you out' and get rid of this psychological craving.Firstly, identify your personal smoking triggers and keep a note of these factors and the most frequently occurring triggers.
At the start of the day
You might notice your nicotine levels drained completely after you wake up in the morning because there has been a long gap of 8 hours. But if you really want to conquer the urge to light up, brush your teeth immediately with minty toothpaste for that instant freshness.Its stimulating properties help suppress the urge to light up.
Your stressful state of mind
As stress and negative moods are the most common triggering factors, practice yoga, breathing exercises and meditation. Sip cold water through a straw, which releases dopamine and brings pleasurable effects and wards off negative mood.
Here are some more ways to wean you off your cigarette pack:
Zone out: Next time you feel the urge to smoke, immediately rush to a 'no smoking zone' or a very distracting location. You can also create 'no tobacco zones' at your own home where cigarettes are completely uninvited and spend time in that part of the home when you crave for a smoke.
Distract yourself: Watch a movie; cultivate a hobby to get rid of boredom and not think about smoking. Keep your mind and hands busy.
Give yourself incentives and encouragement: Reward yourself, whenever you triumph over a craving the occasional sweet treat can be a good feeling too! Calculate your monetary savings-it may be enough to pay for a summer vacation or the most hi-fi gadget that you were wanting for a long time now.
Overcoming the urge
Consider the following medical aids and alternative therapies to overcome the habit:
Smoking and nicotine therapy will never go hand in hand, so quit smoking in order to avoid the toxic effects of indulging in both simultaneously.
You may also like to read:
With inputs from PTI
For more articles on quit smoking, visit our quit smoking section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.