One death out of every five is a result of cigarette smoking. A significant cause of death associated with smoking cigarettes is cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Besides these three cancers, smoking cigarettes can lead to diabetes, osteoporosis, hip fractures, trouble during pregnancy, trouble with erections, and stomach ulcers. You can live a longer and healthier life by quitting smoking.
It is never too late, even if you stop sooner than you think. Even at the age of 80, quitting smoking provides real benefits!
So what’s the best way to stop quit smoke?
Set A Date For Your Stop Smoking Cigarettes.
You can choose a date in the next few weeks, share with friends and family, and mark it on your calendar. That will be the date you plan to stop smoking cigarettes. Think about what might make it difficult to control.
- Prepare yourself for withdrawal symptoms.
- Do your best to avoid or deal with triggers that trigger your craving for a cigarette.
- It would be best to exercise before quitting so you don’t lose weight when you stop smoking cigarettes.
- Keep your mind and hands busy with healthy distractions—stack nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum and patches in your hand.
“It Might Be Better To Go Cold Turkey”
You can reduce your cigarettes before your quit date or smoke as you do up until your quit day. Whichever way is acceptable, but moving or going cold turkey may be better. About 700 participants were assigned to cut back on smoking over two weeks. Or stop smoking cigarettes on a set quit date.
According to a recent study, both groups received counseling and nicotine patches or other types of nicotine replacement—a four-week follow-up (49% versus 39%). Six-month follow-ups (22% versus 15%) showed significant success with cold turkey smokers.
Many People Need Extra Support.
Although some people are successful, many have difficulty quitting for good. Ask for help. You can get support through one-on-one phone calls or mobile phone apps. There are many free counseling programs online, and many will even provide nicotine patches without charge.
There Are Several Treatments Available
The use of medication like nicotine replacement, varenicline, and bupropion boosts quit rates, especially when combined with counseling. These medications may reduce withdrawal. Quitting smoking cigarettes may result in other side effects, including withdrawal symptoms. Even if the smoker hasn’t quit, a smoker can still use all these substances.
As most medications take time to work, both varenicline and bupropion should be started a week to several weeks before the quit date, depending on the drug. Get in touch with your doctor to find a treatment suitable for you, especially if you have depression. They may also combine these treatments if they do not work. Other alternative therapies are available, such as acupuncture and hypnosis, but success has not been evident.
You Can Substitute Nicotine.
Nicotine replacement doubles your quit time, helps with withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and can remove after withdrawal symptoms improve. Inhalers, patches, gum, lozenges, and nasal spray are available over-the-counter and by prescription. If you smoke more than ten cigarettes daily, use the highest dose patch (21mg).
Nicotine delivers through the skin for 24 hours, but you can also remove it at bedtime. You can use other short-acting forms of nicotine replacement alone. Or with patches as needed for cravings or regular use at first (e.g., hourly while awake).
The Varenicline (Chantix)
Varenicline activates nicotine receptors in the body. It reduces withdrawal symptoms and blocks nicotine from smoking cigarettes, which makes smoking less pleasurable. Currently, varenicline has a high quit rate in studies.
Wellbutrin, SR, and Zyban. There is a link between the hormones in the brain and bupropion’s psychoactive effects. Stopping smoking cigarettes also reduces weight gain. The need for longer-term treatment may prevent those who have quit. You cannot treat seizure disorders with it.
Those who stop smoking cigarettes will feel better. And this will lower their risk of getting (and dying from) smoking-related illnesses. But quitting smoking can be difficult. If you are a smoker and want to stop, ask your doctor about the best options to succeed.
