Want to be Happier? Quit Smoking
One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to quit smoking, and for those to stick to it, it can dramatically improve your health. If you needed another excuse to quit smoking, here's some more research to give you a kick: people who quit smoking are actually happier and less depressed than current smokers. Researchers at Brown University have found that people who are in the process of quitting smoking are actually happier. This study was published in the in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
According to one of the authors of the study, Christopher Kahler said that, “The assumption has often been that people might smoke because it has antidepressant properties and that if they quit it might unmask a depressive episode. What's surprising is that at the time when you measure smokers' mood, even if they've only succeeded for a little while, they are already reporting less symptoms of depression."
For the study, they studied the attempts at quitting of 236 male and female smokers who were also heavy social drinkers. They found that amongst those who managed to quit, even for a while, they were in happier during the check-ups when they were successfully abstaining from smoking. They also found that once they resumed smoking their moods were considerably lower, even dropping below the level of when they initially joined the study.
The researchers wanted to stress that smoking wasn’t the relief for anxiety that people think it is. Kahler said that, "If they quit smoking their depressive symptoms go down and if they relapse, their mood goes back to where they were. An effective antidepressant should look like that." Quitting smoking can be the key to a healthier, happier you. Make the commitment to quitting.
"Time-Varying Smoking Abstinence Predicts Lower Depressive Symptoms Following Smoking Cessation Treatment"
Christopher W. Kahler, Nichea S. Spillane, Ph.D., Andrew M. Busch, Ph.D.,Adam M. Leventhal, Ph.D
Nicotine Tob Res (2010) doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntq213
Disclaimer
Featured Doctors
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Bariatric/Obesity Surgery Westchester, New York
Miguel Silva
Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Quick Weight Loss Manhattan, NYC
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
NYC, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Richard DioGuardi
DioGuardi & Murdock
1940 Commerce Street, Suite 108
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Call: 914-245-0700
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Fat Burning Program Salt Lake City, Utah
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
715 East 3900 South Suite 101
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Call: 801-265-3400
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Westchester, New York
Carlos Tulla, M.D.
Lawrence Hospital Center
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 914-787-4723
Breast Cancer Westchester, NY
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Burn Fat Salt Lake City, Utah
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
715 East 3900 South Suite 101
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Call: 801-265-3400
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Westchester, New York
Carlos Tulla, M.D.
Lawrence Hospital Center
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 914-787-4723
Oncology/ Oncologist Hawthorne, NY
Asim Aijaz, M.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Weight Loss Center Salt Lake City, Utah
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
715 East 3900 South Suite 101
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Call: 801-265-3400
Lose Weight Salt Lake City, Utah
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
715 East 3900 South Suite 101
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Call: 801-265-3400
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Fibromyalgia Fairfield, Connecticut
Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.
156 East Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
Call: (203) 242-0165
Free Weight Loss Surgery Seminar Manhattan, NYC
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
NYC, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Integrative Medicine Fairfield, Connecticut
Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.
156 East Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
Call: (203) 242-0165
Gastric Bypass Manhattan, NYC
Elliot Goodman
Beth Israel Medical Center
6th Floor 1st Ave & 16th St
New York City, NY 10003
Call: 888-351-8607
Plantar Fasciitis White Plains, NY
Jonathan Donath
Joint Effort Chiropractic
1241 Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
Call: 888-543-4224
Nutritionist Salt Lake City, Utah
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
Lighthouse Health & Body Makeover
715 East 3900 South Suite 101
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
Call: 801-265-3400
Specialities
- Acupuncture
- Alternative Medicine
- Bariatric Surgery
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Surgery
- Cancer Treatment
- Cardiology
- Chiropractic
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Facial Enhancement
- Fertility Treatment
- Foot Specialist
- Foot Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- General Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Hair Replacement
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infertility Treatment
- Integrative Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- LASIK
- Laser Hair Removal
- Medical Editorial Board
- Medical Spa
- Medical Testing
- Neurology
- Neuropathy
- Nursing Home Services
- Nutrition and Diet
- Obstetrician & Gynecology
- Oncology & Cancer
- Oncology Center
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Spinal Decompression
- Spine Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Thoracic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Vein Surgery
- Weight Loss