That’s sounds amazing if you have decided to quit smoking! Yes, you have won half the battle if your decision is firm.
Now the next step is to look for the path to become smoke-free. According to the American Lung Association, Tobacco use or smoking is responsible for over 480,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Most of us are aware of numerous health risks that are caused due to cigarette smoking. Quitting smoking is not an easy task that can be done in one day; rather it is a journey. An effect of smoking takes many people at the worst stage where they are left with no good choices.
We have compiled a list of some effective ways for you that can certainly help you to quit smoking, and these ways are:
- Prepare yourself for a day when you want to quit
Once you decide to quit smoking, you should choose a date when you will quit. Choose a close date to quit smoking so that you don’t get time to change your mind and which gives you enough time to settle. On your quit day plan include these things:
- Stay busy
- Avoid smoking at all
- Try to drink more water and juice
- Ignore company of individuals who are smoking
- Drink less or no alcohol
- Eat your favorite food
- Take a day sleep if needed
- Use NRTs
Cold Turkey or NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) involves the process of replacing cigarettes with other nicotine substitutes. This NRT treatment plays a vital role by helping smokers to focus on breaking their psychological addiction.
According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are five types of NRT:
- Nicotine Gum
- Skin Patches
- Lozenges
- Inhaler
- Nasal Spray
If you have decided to start using NRT, consult your healthcare provider to know the right dosage before you decide to stop smoking.
- Slowly but Surely
This method is also effective if you have planned to quit smoking. You can try this by just reducing your cigarette use until you don’t need a cigarette anymore. This ‘Slowly but Surely’ method is very helpful and is ideal for people who smoke frequently and are very deep of their habit. All you have to do is just cut back your cigarette use slowly from day to day and week to week. This method is going to work good for few people, but may not for everyone.
- Consider non-nicotine medications to quit smoking
There are two non-nicotine medicines that are approved by FDA and help the smokers to quit smoking. These two non-nicotine drugs bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) help to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Consult a doctor if you want to try one of these medicines. These drugs are available by prescription only.
- Seek behavioral support
During the trying days of to quit smoking, your emotional and physical dependency on smoking will make it more challenging to stay away from nicotine. To stop smoking, you have to tackle this dependence by contacting counseling services, support services, and self-help materials. It will help you to get through this time. You can also take support from your family by spending quality time with them.
- Try alternative therapies
Some people try alternative therapies to quit smoking, but the truth is that currently there is no strong evidence is available that prove any of these effective alternative that improve the chances of becoming smoke-free. In fact, in some of the cases, methods or therapies like these may actually urge the person to smoke extra.
Some of the alternative methods such as filters smoking deterrents, tobacco strips and sticks, nicotine drinks, lollipops, acupuncture, magnet therapy, cold laser therapy, herbs and supplements, yoga and meditation can help you to stop smoking.
- Electronic-Cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes are not used to be sold as a quit smoking aid, but many smokers found it as a method to give up the habit. Research on smoking also has found that these electronic cigarettes are less addictive in compare to tobacco cigarettes. The benefits from using e-cigarettes may not be risk-free but the evidence has suggested that e-cigarettes are equally as harmful as tobacco cigarettes because of causing DNA damage and linked to increased blood pressure and heart rate.
Also Read: Quit Smoking the Easy Way
You should seek an immediate solution if you really want to get rid of the smoking habit. Smoking effects can be worsening day by day as you smoke more.
