Research suggests text messaging could help smokers quit

***wraggster*** · March 9th, 2011, 00:09

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.READ MORE

PhysOrg

**Cmdr Sheppard** · March 9th, 2011, 23:18

Wow that's a little weird...

**Fonixx** · March 9th, 2011, 23:58

Well it certainly helped me quit, i gave up 9 years ago but stupidly started again last year and tried all the patches, tablets, gum and every other method including my wife recruiting informants everywhere to grass on me and agreeing to get a slap everytime i'm seen when i get home. So anyway i needed to keep my hands busy so for a while all i'd do was have my phone in my hand doing internet, texting, games or whatever and made it a Hell of a lot easier.

**Shrygue** · April 20th, 2011, 18:13

Wow, I guess there are good things from doing lots of texting. Help kick smoking is a good thing.

**Morgan9211** · April 22nd, 2011, 06:30

But i don't think that it is much effected for all smokers because when they will want to smoke their will be no problem in setting their hands free for smoking if they are holding their cell phones or any other reading material. To quit smoking your will power counts a lot.

**Broager** · April 25th, 2011, 05:46

Hey dear. Nice post. It is a good information and quite new for me. I am not a smoker but there are many friends who are smoker so i will give this information to them and hopefully they are able to get ride of it. Anyway thanks for the posting.
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