Health

Put an end to smoking once and for all.

Those who want to kill themselves slowly can still get their hands on the modern world’s worst killer. Seventy percent of smokers say they want to quit, and now you have the information you need to help them succeed.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Before giving up smoking,

The following are some things to consider before committing to quit smoking:

Learn to accept the reasons your body is telling you to quit:

Currently, 8.6 million Americans are dealing with at least one smoking-related chronic condition, which is rising daily.

Smoking kills about half a million people annually in the United States alone.

Smokers have a 14-year shorter life expectancy than nonsmokers.

Smoking during pregnancy is responsible for over 1,000 child fatalities annually.

To summarize, everyone around a smoker will have a shorter life expectancy. Everyone in the smoker’s immediate circle is at risk for developing a smoking-related ailment.

Smokers stink, as do their clothes, homes, and everyone else nearby. The aroma is that of a tavern, and it follows the smoker and those around him or her everywhere they go.

Go to a medical professional – Consult professionals who have overseen others through the quitting process. Discuss the use of nicotine gums and patches if they are available. Discuss the potential benefits of Zyban as a smoking cessation tool.

These days, you may get “fake cigarettes” that release a controlled amount of nicotine to help you kick the habit. Discuss every aid at your disposal to determine which, if any, could be helpful. No smoking aids significantly increase your odds of successfully quitting smoking.

Schedule it! Decide on a day when you will be free from temptation and stress. Plan a date when you won’t be exposed to many “triggers” that make you want to light up again for the next two to three weeks.

Set a firm deadline and honor it. Now begins a new phase of your life in which health is essential. Today is the first day of a longer, happier life for you.

Cold turkey has proven effective for many smokers; it was the only option for some. Going cold turkey is the only option for those who can’t gradually reduce their intake.

Think about it: cravings are worse when you quit cold turkey but they don’t last as long. In this case, reducing intake results in gradual, mild hunger pangs over a longer time frame. Don’t close off any possible methods of quitting just yet.

Share your quit date with friends, family, and coworkers to avoid temptation and rally your support system around you.

Share your intended action and the planned date with your loved ones. Both of you benefit from your decision to cease. When circumstances are challenging, those closest to you can be a great source of encouragement and strength.

Eliminate smoking reminders by throwing away cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, and other smoking accessories before your quitting date. You should consider removing or relocating any smoking furniture you may have. If you want to quit smoking, it will be easier if you eliminate as many triggers as possible before your quit date.

When you’re trying to kick the habit,

The first two to three weeks post-quit are the most difficult. Whether you want to quit entirely or gradually, here are some suggestions:

Try this: instead of buying cigarettes, save the money you would have spent and watch it grow over time in a jar. You should reward yourself for quitting smoking by doing something fun with the money you save.

Avoid bars and restaurants where you are tempted to smoke for a while. Two to three weeks should be enough time to avoid these “trigger” locations. If possible, wait until the compulsion to avoid specific areas or activities has passed before returning.

Realize the short duration of your cravings (just two to three minutes) and prepare yourself accordingly. Chew gum or occupy your hands with something else. Remember that the need’s intensity will peak after 2–3 minutes and gradually decrease over the next few days.

Rather than giving in to the temptation of lighting up after a meal, try satisfying your gum cravings instead. Keeping your lips occupied will make you less likely to think about smoking.

While it may seem impossible initially, resisting the urge to light up while drinking eventually becomes second nature. If you can avoid lighting up again in the future, success is yours.

Don’t think you can have “just one more” because that’s how you got addicted in the first place. One more won’t hurt, so don’t think that way. This is the addiction talking, and it’s also the surest path back to smoking.

Don’t light up when you first get up; try to avoid lighting up at all the times you ordinarily smoke. Try to divert your attention or refuse. Again, the cravings only linger for a few minutes, so try to ignore them and remember that it gets better and eventually disappear.

Never have another; never have one “just for nostalgia’s sake.” Maintain your status as a nonsmoker to get the rewards of not smoking. If you even have one cigarette, you’ll be right back where you started.

Now that you’re smoke-free

Now that it’s been approximately a month since you quit smoking, the withdrawal symptoms should have subsided. It should now be easier to resist future urges, as they will be mental or habitual rather than physical.

Take a deep breath in and out; your breathing should have been easier and deeper since you stopped smoking. As the tar deposits around your lungs are eliminated, your lung capacity will continue to improve. So take a few big breaths and savor the feeling.

Feel more energized because as plaque and other deposits move out of your blood vessels and arteries, oxygen can more quickly and easily reach your muscles. You’ll feel revitalized and energized after doing this.

Have a party and spend the money you would have spent on cigarettes doing something fun with your loved ones. You’ve just given yourself an extra 14 years of life (provided, of course, that you never pick up a cigarette again).

Remember that the need to smoke will come back from time to time, but that it won’t stay and that you are no longer a smoker.