Archives for December 2015

Guys, let’s talk about smoking. Don’t worry this isn’t going to be another article about how bad smoking is. Everyone knows the facts on smoking by now and it’s time for people to make up their own mind. Instead, we thought it might be fun to look at some interesting facts about smoking. Smoking has often been thrust into the negative limelight in the media. But it didn’t always used to be that way and we’d be amazed if you knew these fascinating facts related to smoking.

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I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

Have you ever tried to quit smoking? It’s tough isn’t it? But it’s even tougher in Hollywood, particularly when you are taking on an iconic smoking role. That’s exactly what happened to Liam Neeson when he took on the role of John “Hannibal” Smith. The leader of the A-Team was always puffing a cigar in the old TV show. It was an iconic part of his character and one that producers knew they couldn’t take away in the remake. But Mr Neeson was already trying to quit. To account for this, they used a rubber cigarette and made it look like he was lighting up. But he never once actually smoked on screen.

Another tail of smoking in Hollywood arrived last year. Developers at NBC refused to let the creators of the new TV show Constantine, have the named character smoking a cigarette. In the comics Constantine’s chain smoking is a big part of the character. To get around this, the creators filmed scenes where Constantine was putting out a cigarette after smoking on screen.

A Wonderful Aftertaste

Non-smokers probably aren’t aware that cigars and cigarettes can actually come in a whole host of different flavours. But they can. You can get cigars with lots of different tastes. That nasty after taste of smoking doesn’t have to be there if you’re smoking a cherry flavoured cigar from Swisher Sweets. Of course, some people are attracted to the taste of nicotine. This might be because of an addiction or perhaps a personal preference. It’s not really clear but if you want to try a different taste in your mouth smoking, the options are anything but limited.

Smoking To Quit Smoking

We were shocked to find that one of the most popular ways to quit smoking is to…keep smoking. Instead of smoking cigarettes smokers are switching to vaping. Supposedly vaping is a lot healthier than regular smoking. Again, they come with plenty of different flavours and you can control the amount of nicotine you’re taking. We’re not sure if vaping is actually better for you and neither are doctors. There’s more research to do. But for now, it does seem to be one of the best ways to kick the habit.

That’s Astounding!

Just how big is the smoking industry? Cigarettes are actually one of the most traded products in the world. 1 trillion are sold internationally each year. All together that makes up a global market of four hundred billion. So, if you are a smoker, you can take solace in one fact. You’re certainly not alone.

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Pregnancy can be a wonderful time in a woman’s life. Or it can be a nightmare. Being pregnant can be quite difficult for some women, and they can develop a number of symptoms throughout the process. We have all heard about morning sickness and food cravings, but these are just the tip of the iceberg in some cases. Here are five more unusual symptoms you could develop during your pregnancy.

Hot flashes

Pregnancy hot flashes and night sweats are quite a common symptom for a woman’s body to develop. They are caused by a drop in estrogen that is similar to women going through the menopause. They can last for a few minutes, an entire day and in some cases continue after the baby has been born. It’s an unpredictable effect of being pregnant and can make expectant mothers very uncomfortable. Especially if they cannot get any cold relief.

Metallic tastes

Pregnant women can often complain about a metallic or sour taste in their mouths. This is usually found in women who suffer from severe morning sickness. Again this is caused by a change or imbalance in the hormone Estrogen, which controls and maintains your sense of taste. Using a strong mouthwash or eating strongly flavored food can usually get rid of the unpleasant taste.

Nasal Congestion

Having a blocked nose is a particularly unusual symptom caused by pregnancy. This is known as rhinitis and causes the mucus membranes inside your nose to swell. It can also be caused by the tiny blood vessel, also located in your nose, swelling due to the extra blood they are carrying. This gives the impression of a cold or allergies developing. This can make it difficult for expectant mothers to breathe through their nasal passages.

More body hair

A thicker head of hair is something every woman wants. During pregnancy women can experience their hair getting much thicker and fuller, but some can also see an increase in facial and body hair. Thankfully both of these can be removed quickly and easily but that doesn’t mean it isn’t embarrassing for pregnant women to deal with. It can make them self-conscious, and they may lose their confidence as a result. This symptom will not become a permanent effect and should stop growing a month or two after the baby has been born.

Larger feet

Swelling feet is something we have all heard about. But women’s feet can grow in both length and width during the pregnancy process. They can increase by a half or even a whole size due to the extra weight gain and the hormone Relaxin. This causes the bones in women’s feet to spread and could cause a growth spurt each time a woman get’s pregnant.

Hopefully, this guide will have provided some insight into possible changes that women’s bodies go through. In no way should these symptoms be feared. They are all temporary, and it’s not guaranteed every woman will get them. Having a beautiful, healthy baby will be worth all of the discomfort and embarrassment anyway.