Remember why smoking is bad for you...

Inhaling tobacco smoke causes several immediate physical reactions:

• Your heart rate begins to rise, increasing by as much as 30%
• Nicotine raises your blood pressure, making your heart work harder to deliver oxygen
• Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces your blood's ability to carry oxygen

It should come as no surprise that...

• A cigarette smoker has 2-3 times the risk of having a heart attack than a nonsmoker
• Smoking is one of the leading causes of coronary heart disease in the U.S.
• Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, suicide, AIDS, homicide, & illegal drugs
• Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have adverse birth outcomes

Cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the U.S. despite the fact that it is the MOST PREVENTABLE cause of premature death in our society If smoking were discovered today, it would never pass any of the world's health and safety requirements for human use. In fact, with the toxins smoking introduces into the body, cigarettes would be classed as a dangerous poison and would not be made available for public use.

and for your life...

The people who love you would like to keep you around for a while.
Anti-smoking laws are making it difficult to find a place to smoke.
You won't feel like a criminal.
You'll smell better.
You'll feel better.
People will want to be closer to you.
You'll be able to breathe better and lose the "smoker's cough".
Your smile will be brighter.
You'll have a whole lot more free time.

Begin detoxification 4-5 days before treatment

Reduce or eliminate caffeine consumption
Drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day (64 oz. total)
Avoid soft drinks, tea, and sugary foods
Increase your intake of vitamin C

Following this regimen prior to your laser session will help your body more quickly rid itself of the nicotine and other toxins and adjust to being a non-smoker. Our goal is to get you free of nicotine as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Reducing your caffeine intake is important because the more caffeine you have in your system, the more you want to smoke.

You do not have to reduce or alter your smoking pattern prior to the first laser treatment. However, if you begin eliminating your triggers (see below) it will help you significantly.

Other Preparations

Know your triggers. What activities or times of day cause you to crave a cigarette the most? About a week before your first laser treatment, begin eliminating your triggers one by one. Pick the one that you feel will be hardest for you to eliminate when quitting and try to do without (or delay) that cigarette. Shake up your routine. This will help you begin to break the habit before you actually quit.

Make an action plan for the first few days after treatment. Keep busy and active, especially during your trigger times. Exercise, go to the movies, see friends.

Calculate how much money you will save by not smoking. Put aside the money you aren't spending on cigarettes and plan a reward for yourself. If you smoked even a pack a day, it can buy you that luxurious vacation or shopping spree you thought you couldn't afford.