Most smokers will try to quit at some point in their lives. This has a lot to do with the fact that quitting is a lifestyle change that can drastically improve your life. Smoking has been proven to cause illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, because smoking can cause both physical and mental addiction, quitting is not always easy.
Why Quit?
Smoking is extremely dangerous to your health, as it can cause serious and usually life-threatening conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, half of all smokers who continue smoking will die from a smoking-related illness, such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease or atherosclerosis -- the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries, which blocks blood flow. Nearly one in five deaths in the United States is caused by smoking, and another 8.6 million people suffer from lung and heart diseases induced by smoking. By quitting, you can drastically improve your health and reduce your risk of illness.
Nicotine
Nicotine is the addictive drug found in tobacco that causes people to become physically dependent on cigarettes. When you smoke a cigarette, nicotine travels down your lungs, where it is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Nicotine's addictive qualities affect many parts of your body, including your heart rate, metabolism and nervous system. It also has neurological effects on the brain, which make it addictive. In time, your body will build a tolerance for nicotine, which will cause you to increase the number of cigarettes you need to smoke in order to reach the same effect.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Cigarettes are both mentally and physically addictive. Therefore, smoking withdrawal can have a wide array of symptoms. Physical symptoms can include dizziness, headache, increased appetite, weight gain, constipation, cough, sore throat and chest tightness. Mental symptoms may include depression, anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbance and trouble concentrating. These symptoms cause many people to start smoking again.
Help With Physical Addiction
Nicotine causes a physical dependence on cigarettes. Numerous products, however, can help you ease your addiction to nicotine. This is known as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). These products -- whether in the form of patches, gum or inhalers -- provide small doses of nicotine to the bloodstream. These products can be used to gradually decrease your body's dependence on the drug. According to the American Cancer Society, studies show that pairing NRT with a behavioral program can drastically improve your chance of quitting successfully. Behavioral programs help smokers with the social and mental aspects of quitting smoking.
Help With Mental Addiction
Smoking also causes a mental addiction. Many programs are aimed at helping smokers change their behavior. Every state in the country, including the District of Columbia, has a free telephone program, where you can talk to a trained counselor. Getting support from family members and friends, or other quitting programs such as Nicotine Anonymous, can also be extremely effective.
