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How to Stop Smoking
For smokers, quitting is one of the hardest things to do. The nicotine found in cigarettes is highly addictive meaning that most smokers who try to quit are often unsuccessful. Not only does the nicotine cause an extreme addiction for smokers, smoking tobacco can also become a daily ritual making it very hard to give up. Unfortunately, smoking can have many adverse affects including high blood pressure, lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, erectile dysfunction, chronic and obstructive pulmonary disease. For women who are pregnant and smoking, smoking can cause a low birth weight for the baby or even infant death. Additionally, smokers can negatively affect the health of those around them by the second hand smoke that is given off. With all of this in mind, smokers should realize that there are numerous long term health benefits of quitting smoking. Although quitting smoking isn't easy, there are several methods that can aid smokers in their journey to a healthier lifestyle.
1) START: START stands for an acronym that stands for set a quit date, tell family and friends that you plan to quit, anticipate and plan the challenges you'll face while quitting, remove cigarettes from living space, and talk to your doctor about quitting. These steps will help individuals give themselves the best possible chance of quitting smoking for good. 2) Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Cessation Products: Although there are other factors that make it difficult for individuals to stop smoking, the nicotine is the main cause of the addiction. There are several nicotine replacement therapies on the market today. The therapies typically range from patches, gums, lozenges, and even nasal sprays. "NRTs" are designed to help those who want to let themselves down easy versus quitting cold turkey. The level of nicotine being given to the body can be adjusted making NRTs an effective and easier way to quit smoking. 3) Medications: In addition to nicotine replacement therapies, there are certain medications that can aid in quitting smoking. Medications that typically aid in nicotine withdrawal symptoms are Wellbutrin and Chantax. For those looking for more of a natural aid, some herbs such as Ginseng and Lobilia may also help. 4) Electronic Cigarettes: One of the newest emerging techniques or "gadgets" to help smokers quit is the electronic cigarette. These cigarettes contain nicotine, but lack the harmful ingredients of tobacco and tar. Smokers will feel as if they are smoking a real cigarette through the vapor that acts as smoke. Electronic cigarettes come in a large variety of flavors, sizes, and types. Although electronic cigarettes have a lot of benefits, they require a fair amount of equipment and although they aren't as expensive as actual cigarettes, can still do damage to the wallet. However, they are a safe and effective way to beat the smoking habit. |
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