If you're looking into how to quit smoking, then chances are that you're a regular cigarette smoker and have been for some time. Quitting smoking can seem like an overwhelming process, and we're not going to lie, it's tough. However, it's important to remember that hundreds of people successfully quit smoking every day, and you can be one of them!
There are various methods for how to quit smoking, and we're going to take a look at each of them, as well as giving you an overview of what you can expect to happen when you stop smoking. So if you're ready to take that first step, then read on!
How to Quit Smoking: The Why
Before we take a look at methods, let's take a quick look at why you should be looking into how to quit smoking. We're all aware of the dangers of smoking, and there are many of them. Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer, as well as mouth and throat cancers, it also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by two to four times, as well as putting you at risk for many respiratory (breathing) illnesses.
However, there are other reasons, aside from the huge health benefits, why you should quit smoking. You'll have an improved sense of smell and taste, for example. If you're female you'll increase your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy child. Your home, car and clothes will smell better, and your health insurance premiums will go down as well (you can find out more about premiums for smokers by checking out Life Insurance for Smokers). As you can see, there are some great reasons for quitting! So let's look at how to quit smoking.
How to Quit Smoking: The Methods
There are several methods that can help you quit smoking, and no one of these is better than any of the others. Depending on your personality, how addicted you are, and which methods are available to you, you'll probably find that one of these methods is better than another for you. The main methods for how to quit smoking are:
Cold Turkey
Cold turkey means that you just stop smoking from one day to the next. This is probably the most difficult method of all, since you'll go into nicotine withdrawal and crave cigarettes for a long time. However, some people do have success with quitting smoking cold turkey. This method costs you nothing but time and will power, though since you won't be replacing the nicotine in your cigarettes with nicotine from any other product it is hard. Some people try to replace smoking with another habit, such as chewing gum or sucking lollipops to try and beat their cravings when quitting smoking in this way.
With Over the Counter Nicotine Products
Pharmacies sell many over the counter nicotine products that can help you if you're looking into how to quit smoking. Nicotine gum is a special chewing gum that contains nicotine and can help you quit, and nicotine patches are small plasters that stick on your body and secrete nicotine into your system. Most of these products come in different strengths so that you can slowly decrease the amount of nicotine you use each day. This method can be quite expensive, depending on how long you use the products for, though it will be easier to quit, since you won't get complete withdrawal from nicotine. Be aware that nicotine patches in particular can have some side effects, such as skin irritation or even nightmares.
With Prescription Drugs
Your doctor will be happy to advise you on how to quit smoking, and he may also prescribe you a medication that may help you. There are two known prescription drugs (known as Zyban and Chantix) that can help smokers quit. However, many doctors are reluctant to prescribe these until every other method has failed, and both drugs do have side effects, ranging from mild nausea to extreme mood changes such as depression, so they're not without risk. These medications are quite effective, but they don't work for everyone, and the side effects may be bad enough that you need to stop taking the drug entirely.
With an Ecig
One relatively new way to stop smoking is by using an ecigarette. These are devices that act like cigarettes, in that you “smoke” them and get nicotine. However, they don't smell and they can be regulated so that you can slowly decrease your intake of nicotine. Some studies show that ecigarettes are safer than actually smoking, whilst other studies are inconclusive. Because these are such new products, we don't know the long term risks of using them. An ecigarette is likely to cost you a fair amount of money, though the cost of filling it with nicotine liquid is cheaper than the cost of cigarettes themselves.
Other Methods
Finally, there are a few other methods that you can consider if you're looking at how to quit smoking. Some people say that hypnosis helps, whilst psychologists may offer behavioural therapy to help you quit. If you choose to get psychological help you must ensure that you're going to a qualified therapist or hypnotist. But some people find that the support they get from therapy is very helpful when quitting smoking.
What Happens When You Stop Smoking
So now you know how to quit smoking, but what can you expect to happen during this process? The first thing that you will probably notice is nicotine withdrawal. This means that you will have cravings for a cigarette, and will probably mean that you get more irritable or anxious, you may also have shaking hands. These are the physical symptoms of your body getting used to not having nicotine, and are generally nothing to worry about.
However, the health benefits of stopping smoking start almost immediately as well. Within just twenty minutes of smoking your last cigarette your heart rate and blood pressure return to a lower, normal state. After twelve hours your carbon monoxide levels return to normal. After 72 hours you are completely nicotine free. And after a week or two your circulation will improve and you'll find that you're not coughing as much as you used to, plus your anxiety and irritability should have passed.
But what about those cravings? When you look at how to stop smoking, nicotine cravings are the most common reason that people fail. For the first couple of days cravings are likely to happen very often. However, with about five days you should be down to about 3 cravings a day, each lasting only around 3 minutes. Within ten days, that should be down to about two cravings per day. After around two weeks cravings should happen less than daily, and only in situations where you would normally have smoked (such as at a bar, or during a coffee break).
In the long term, after a year your risk of heart attack and stroke has halved, although it will take a full fifteen years for your heart attack and stroke risk to drop to the same levels as those of a non smoker.
How to Quit Smoking: The Bottom Line
Quitting smoking is not easy, but the benefits of quitting are huge. It might seem like a big step, but many, many people successfully quit smoking, and if you take things one day at a time, you can be one of them!
* Disclaimer: We do not represent any of the companies, products and/or services reviewed, published or advertised on this website. Nor are we financial, health or insurance professionals or services provider. If you request a quote or purchase a product/service, it will not necessarily be given by the company reviewed on any specific page. Any decisions you make based on the information presented is at your own discretion and we advise that before doing so, you consult with the relevant professional.
Main subject: How to Quit Smoking
