Smoking 'epidemic' likely to kill two out of three Australian smokers ..........

Two out of three smokers, or about 1.8 million Australians, will die because of their habit, the first large-scale Australian study on the link between smoking and mortality shows.

The study, published in the international journal BMC Medicine, found the smoking "epidemic" reduced a smoker's life expectancy by 10 years on average.
Scientists from the Sax Institute in Sydney and the University of Melbourne followed 200,000 smokers over the age of 45.

The study, published in the international journal BMC Medicine, found the smoking "epidemic" reduced a smoker's life expectancy by 10 years on average.
Scientists from the Sax Institute in Sydney and the University of Melbourne followed 200,000 smokers over the age of 45.

Professor Emily Banks, the lead author of the study, said smoking was a "very, very powerful addiction" and she hoped the findings would give people the information they needed to really consider whether they should continue to smoke.

"Even though we've been incredibly successful at tobacco control in Australia we still have 2.7 million smokers," Professor Banks said.
"And 1.8 million of those smokers will die from their habit if they don't quit."

The three main conditions that kill smokers are cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic lung disease.

Professor Banks said those who smoked 10 cigarettes a day doubled their risk of premature death and that figure was much higher for heavy smokers.
"People who were smoking 25 or more cigarettes a day [had] up to a four to fivefold increase in their risk of dying [early]," she said.

"In a way this two-thirds figure actually tips the balance," she said.

"What it means is if you quit smoking or you support someone to quit smoking then the chances are you've actually saved someone from premature death.

"Now would be a good time to quit, and these data show if you continue to smoke the chances are you won't get away with it."

The study found those who gave up the habit before the age of 45 could mostly avoid the major risks associated with smoking.


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Bulimia, a matter of weight .....

What is bulimia? Most of us have heard of it, but what is it, and what can we do about it? Here's a little insight into the issue:

Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. Eating disorder is the term used to describe a group of illnesses where someone has a distorted view of body image and extreme disturbances in eating behaviour. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are all different types of eating disorders.

People experiencing bulimia go on regular eating "binges", which involve consuming large amounts of food in relatively discrete periods of time whilst accompanied by feelings of being out of control of one's food intake. The binge eating is usually followed by feelings of guilt and anxiety about becoming fat which results in a need to get rid of the food.

Common ways of getting rid of food may include:

* over exercising to burn the calories
* "throwing up"
* taking laxatives, diuretics or diet pills
* not eating for several days after the binge.

Binging may be used as a way of coping with anger, depression, stress and sadness.

Some of the common signs of bulimia may be:

* eating unusually large amounts of food
* being secretive about what is eaten and when
* visiting the bathroom after eating
* over exercising
* being very critical of one's self
* moody
* depression
* regularly tired/lacking energy
* sore throat
* decaying teeth

and .....


What causes bulimia

Like other eating disorders bulimia is a combination of physical and mental health difficulties and the cause is not clear. However, a number of factors may be associated with bulimia. These may include:

* physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
* cultural emphasis on slimness
* preoccupation with body image ideals
* relationships with peers or family
* loss and grief
* brain chemistry
* physiological and psychological effects of dieting
* stress or coping styles

And here's the big question:

DO I HAVE BULIMIA?
Ask yourself the following questions. The more “yes” answers, the more likely you’re suffering from bulimia or another eating disorder.
Are you obsessed with your body and your weight?
Does food and dieting dominate your life?
Are you afraid that when you start eating, you won’t be able to stop?
Do you ever eat until you feel sick?
Do you feel guilty, ashamed, or depressed after you eat?
Do you vomit or take laxatives to control your weight?

Bulimic sufferers have been, and can be guided out of the misery created by this illness. The interventions required are psychological in nature, such as Hypnotherapy (Clinical Hypnosis), which I look upon as a very subtle and potent form of cognitive behavioral therapy.