According to the American Lung Association, smoking is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States. It harms the lungs and other body organs, raises the risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and harms other people exposed to second-hand smoke. There are different ways to stop smoking and resources to assist in the effort.
Plan a Quit Day
The first step to quitting is making a plan. Decide what day you will stop and commit to it. Sometimes, people have to try to quit more than once before they can stop. Make a commitment verbally to yourself and to your loved ones.
Get Support
The American Cancer Society reports that most persons who have successfully quit had an emotional support system in place to help. You should tell your close friends and relatives that you are quitting so that they can provide encouragement and support through the process of quitting. There are several resources out there that are available online to assist with quitting. The American Lung Association has a Freedom from Smoking program which personalizes a step-by-step plan to stop. The Lung Helpline provides support by making available a counselor to talk to you and offer support. Some persons find that one-on-one counseling is helpful. Others feel that a group program can help most with the addiction.
Consider Options for the Physical Addiction
Nicotine is addictive and persons who are smokers will sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms, physically and mentally, when they quit smoking. Some persons need nicotine replacement therapy in the form of chewing gums, patches, sprays, inhalers or lozenges to alleviate the withdrawl symptoms so that they can focus on quitting. The American Cancer Society offers information on the different types of nicotine replacement therapies. In some cases, other prescription medications that can be prescribed by your doctor might be indicated to assist with quitting.
Changing Habits
Once a person has quit smoking, he may feel the need to replace the habit with a healthier one. This might include chewing sugarless gum, hard candy or carrots. Persons who smoke when they are stressed may need to find an alternative to stress relief such as exercising, taking a walk or another relaxing activity.
Give Yourself Credit
It is difficult to stop smoking and success is a major accomplishment. The American Cancer Society suggests keeping the money you would have spent on tobacco to buy something else as a reward.
