Smoking has significant health risks, and it is not only harmful to you, but also to the people near you. Tobacco abuse leads to cancer, COPD, cardiac issues and other chronic health conditions. Non-smokers who spend time with smokers are at almost as much risk as active smokers. That’s why it is essential to quit. This article provides several tips that may be able to help you quit successfully.
If you want to quit smoking, the word for you is “No”. Every time you’re tempted you have to disallow yourself the ability to say “Yes” to a cigarette. If your only answer is “No” you’ll find that you can’t cave in to a craving. No cigarettes, no “Maybe”, leads to no smoking!
If you’re trying to quit smoking, try chewing gum instead. Often times when you try to leave a bad habit behind, you must replace it with a more positive one. Chewing gum allows you to use your mouth and jaw in some of the same ways that smoking does. It is a healthy way to keep yourself busy while you’re working toward quitting.
Keep a cold glass or bottle of ice water nearby at all times. When you get a craving for a cigarette, take a sip of water–even if this means you hardly put the bottle down at first. This gives you something to do with your hands and mouth, and it can be a useful way to prevent snacking, too.
If your cold turkey effort to quit smoking failed, then get some extra help via products like nicotine patches or gum. These over-the-counter medications supply your body with nicotine while you work to break the habit, which can help you stave off the worst of the physical withdrawal symptoms.
Do not quit alone. Tell everyone you around on regularly that you are trying to quit smoking. They can provide support and encouragement and it can make a huge difference. You might also consider a support group or a counselor. Behavior therapy can help you come up with and stick to strategies that will help you quit smoking.
Have a friend or family member quit who smokes quit at the same time as you. Just like other things in life, such as losing weight, quitting is easier when someone else knows where you are coming from. The two of you can share tips or just vent to each other.
Avoid situations that you would be more likely to smoke. For example, if a bar that you frequent allows smoking, you may want to think about going to a different bar. By avoiding these kinds of situations, you will be less apt to want to pick up a cigarette in the first place.
Smokers are at substantially greater risk for a number of dangerous medical conditions. There are various health risks, like lung cancer, heart attacks, and emphysema. Also, second-hand smoke is serious, and could have negative consequences to your loved ones’ health. Hopefully, you will be better able to stop smoking by following the advice in this article.
