Smoking is a deadly habit that can cause heart disease, lung disease and several forms of cancer. Watching someone you love continue to smoke can be difficult when you understand his health is at risk. If you are tired of standing by and watching your friend's or family member's health decline, there are several ways you may be able to convince them to quit.
Step 1
Build a trusting relationship with the smoker. A smoker is more likely to listen to you and take less offense from your request if she trusts you and know that you are speaking out because you care for her and are not judging her for smoking.
Step 2
Approach the situation with understanding. Do your own research on the effects of nicotine addiction, such as the effects of nicotine on brain chemistry and the difficult withdrawal effects that can occur when quitting. This allows you to better understand why it is difficult for him to quit.
Step 3
Keep the conversation positive. Focus on the fact that quitting smoking can have a dramatic improvement on his physical health. In fact, the American Heart Association states that much of the damage that was done by smoking can be reversed. For example, energy levels will return, smoker's cough will disappear, the digestive system will return to normal, the pulmonary system will begin to recover, and chances of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, will decrease.
Step 4
Present the research surrounding the dangers of smoking cigarettes. Some smoker's need to see the facts presented clearly in front of them. In these cases, talk about the way smoking is killing her body. For example, this may include discussing the 4,000 different chemicals in cigarettes, which include at least 60 cancer-causing ingredients, according to the American Cancer Society. Discussing the overall effects on the heart and lungs can also be beneficial.
Step 5
Schedule an appointment with a hospital stop-smoking program. Many local hospitals have programs in place to educate those who smoke, as well as their friends or family, about the dangers of smoking. They also have the resources necessary to help the smoker quit when they are ready.
Step 6
Ask the smoker to schedule an appointment with his doctor to evaluate the overall effects smoking has already had in his body. The doctor can show the impact smoking has already had on the body, as well as predict both the positive results that will occur from smoking cessation or the negative effects that can occur if the individual continues to smoke.
