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This is usually the time of year when people make New Years resolutions to make better health choices, lose weight, work on their marriages, and many other resolutions. The American Lung Association is encouraging people to stop smoking as part of their resolutions this year. As most know, smoking is extremely bad for your health and is a leading cause of death by lung cancer for half of all adults who are smokers.

There are many ways that someone can quit smoking. Most smokers who choose to quit try to go about it by going cold turkey, quitting without any support system in place. The majority of those who choose this method of quitting usually fail. The American Lung Association highly recommends that someone gain a support system whether it be through a smoking cessation class, friends or family, or a regular meeting group. There is also prescription and over the counter medication that can help someone to quit smoking. Some of these products include nicotine gum and patches. These medications help to ease the cravings that people get when quitting.

There are going to be side effects when quitting. These include cravings, whether for nicotine or sweets among other things, irritability and nervousness, shaking, weight gain, and headaches. Those who smoke and suffer from depression are more prone to experience these side effects. The side effects may be difficult to go through and usually last for several weeks but they do subside over time and it will become easier to resist the temptation of picking up another cigarette.

The benefits of not smoking are numerous. The fist, most important benefit is living a longer, healthier life. Those who choose to quit smoking and are successful will live longer then those who choose to quit smoking and continue after a period of time without it. Your chances of getting lung cancer are lowered significantly when you quit smoking along with other infections. When you quit smoking, you will feel better by not being as tired or lethargic. Your spirits will be lifted and the desire to be more active will start to come back to you. Along with the benefits of better health and being more active, your appearance will be affected as well. Smoking is known to be a factor in causing wrinkles, so when you quit that is one less thing that makes you age faster. Your youthful look will start to reappear again.

Those who smoke do so for different reasons but there are other ways you can go about fulfilling what you smoke for. Break the bad habit through a support system, and replace it with a good habit that will benefit your life.

Heather Locklear Pleads No Contest to Reckless Driving

Heather Locklear, one of Hollywood’s most recognized beauties – now one of its most recognized mugshots – has pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge. The case went to court in the early morning Friday, January 2, 2009. Blair Berk, Locklear’s attorney, entered the plea on her behalf. Ms. Locklear was not present at the proceedings.

As part of the plea agreement reached with prosecutors in Santa Barbara County, Locklear must pay a $700 fine, complete a 12-hour driving-safety class, and was sentenced to three years of informal probation. A separate and more serious DUI charge was dismissed.

Locklear, 47, perhaps most well-known for her portrayal of the manipulative vixen Amanda in the 90′s hit series “Melrose Place”, had been working on “Hannah Montana the Movie” for a large part of last year. The blonde beauty was arrested for driving under the influence on September 27th. A member of the paparazzi who had been following Locklear reported to police that the actress was driving erratically, and stumbled upon exiting her vehicle.

A representative for the Santa Barbara district attorney’s office issued a statement saying there was no alcohol or no illegal substances found in Locklear’s system, according to a toxicology report. She was, however, taking prescription medications.