Tips on Stopping Smoking
According to the American
Cancer Society 1 in 5 deaths in the US are from tobacco or some
tobacco related effect. If we know that smoking is so dangerous, why
is it so difficult to stop smoking? Tips
on stopping smoking run the gamut from hypnosis, acupuncture, herbal
remedies and nicotine patches, as well as a range of behavioral techniques.
But at the heart of most stop smoking is the culprit, nicotine.
Stopping Smoking
The American Cancer Society predicts that only 4-7% of those who attempt
to stop smoking will actually succeed. But there are tips recommended
by the Cancer Society to increase the odds that you will succeed.
Medications
Success for stopping smoking can be increased significantly with the
use of medication to control the nicotine addiction. This includes nicotine
patches, gums, inhaler or lozenges and nasal sprays. Other medications
such as Bupropion don’t contain nicotine but do help reduce the cravings
for nicotine.
Varenicline is a stopping smoking prescription drug that is reported
to reduce withdrawal symptoms from the nicotine. Nicotine provides a
pleasurable sensation for many smokers, which is part of the craving
cycle. Varenicline is reported to reduce this sensation, making it easier
to quit according to manufacturers.
Nicotine replacement and reduction products focus on the problems for
those in the throws of stopping smoking and dealing with the physical
symptoms caused by the reduction or cessation of nicotine. Patches,
gums and other nicotine replacement products can allow the smoker to
change habits and routines while reducing the painful, uncomfortable
withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your medical professional about the options
in prescription support to determine which medication or combination
of medications will support your plan to stop smoking. There are benefits
and concerns with each.
Support it
In nearly every neighborhood there are a variety of support and educational
options to support your plan for stopping smoking. One of the best resources
for finding local options is the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).
They provide a great portal to stop smoking guides, resources in your
community and internet and phone-in options to support the stopping
smoking plans.
If you can also engage family, friends and co-workers in the plan, you
can increase your feeling of support which may improve your chances
of success to stop smoking. The Cancer Society can also be reached by
calling their help and resource line at 800-227-2345.
In every state there are reported to be free phone-based programs designed
to aid in the quitting
smoking. The results for telephone counseling in the stopping smoking
attempts has be reported to increase success in some cases doubling
the chances of freeing yourself from smoking.
Fake it
Electric cigarettes are also becoming a popular alternative to smoking,
it allows the sensation of smoking without the chemical additives common
in cigarette, and has no smoke or fire potential. The electric
cigarettes are often offered with a liquid nicotine release system
to deliver nicotine without the tars, chemicals and additives of cigarettes.
Check with your local regulatory agency to see if they are available
in your area.
Selected Top Tips
The best plans to stop smoking include an integrated approach to reduce
the nicotine withdrawal symptoms, provide new techniques to manage stress,
and replace habits with new solutions.
Your medical professional may have stop smoking guides and tips to support
you in the process, as well as information and advice about the medications
that might be a good choice for you. Check with your pharmacist to be
certain there is no conflict with your other medications, if any.
Focus on the reasons that are driving you to put down the pack. Some
of the stopping smoking sites offer calculators that show the high cost
of buying cigarettes, and show what you could have purchased instead.
If money isn’t the motivator, and your family is then be certain to
include them in your list of reasons. Add a snapshot to the front of
the pack of cigarettes, to remind you at the point of weakness.
Keep busy, exercise or walk when you feel the urge. Use gum, mints or
hard candy to help fill-in. Get rid of all of the trappings of smoking,
cases, lighters, ashtrays and of course dump the cigarettes.
Conclusion
Tobacco, smoking and the related effects are serious threats to the
health of the smoker and all those around them. Spread the word to the
people in your life that you have a plan to quit, get support from professionals
including telephone counselors, and plan survival skills to get you
through the rough patches. Since 1 in 5 in this country die as a consequence
of smoking the obstacles to stopping smoking are small compared to the
risks of not stopping.
