Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit

We've heard plenty about the perils of cellphones in general and text messaging in particular, but are there some instances where it might actually be good for your health? Well, sort of. Some researchers at the University of Oregon and a few other participating institutions have now found a way to pinpoint the areas of the brain that are most active in controlling the urges to smoke, and they say that information can also be predictive of real-world behavior and the individuals' ability to respond to various smoking cessation programs. One of those such programs tested by the researchers involved sending eight text messages a day to an individual, which they had to reply to in order to document their cravings, mood and cigarette use. That's similar to other programs that rely on a dedicated device to collect data (which have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit), but the researchers found that using text messages proved to be at least as effective, and is obviously a simpler and cheaper solution.

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Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit

We've heard plenty about the perils of cellphones in general and text messaging in particular, but are there some instances where it might actually be good for your health? Well, sort of. Some researchers at the University of Oregon and a few other participating institutions have now found a way to pinpoint the areas of the brain that are most active in controlling the urges to smoke, and they say that information can also be predictive of real-world behavior and the individuals' ability to respond to various smoking cessation programs. One of those such programs tested by the researchers involved sending eight text messages a day to an individual, which they had to reply to in order to document their cravings, mood and cigarette use. That's similar to other programs that rely on a dedicated device to collect data (which have been shown to be effective in helping smokers quit), but the researchers found that using text messages proved to be at least as effective, and is obviously a simpler and cheaper solution.

Continue reading Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit

Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zyban (Bupropion) – give up smoking!

Quit SmokingZyban (Bupropion) is a non-typical antidepressant. The medicine is intended for all those who decided to cease smoking. Though Zyban (Bupropion) does not contain nicotine, it could be successfully used in smoking cessation therapy. The medicine works by reducing the severity of smoking cessation symptoms. In Great Britain more than 500 thousand patients with nicotine dependence has already used it. Zyban showed itself as a safe and effective medicine. This has been proved by a long-term clinical use for treating depression in Canada and the USA. In the USA Zyban (Bupropion) was registered back in 1989 initially as a medicine for treating depression. Since that time 28 million patients in the whole world have used it (20 million for treating various forms of depression and 8 million – against nicotine dependence).  Smoking is a risk factor for most chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular dysfunctions. With time smoking tobacco forms an addictive behavior. 90% of smokers are willing to give up smoking; just 3–5% manage to do that.  That is why aiding the smokers to overcome nicotine dependence and give up smoking is an important practical task to be solved by healthcare professionals. Presently nicotine dependence is considered as a disease. An important role in relief of nicotine dependence symptoms plays pharmaceutical means, and Zyban (Bupropion) takes the lead among them.

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