Smoking is a habit that a lot of people turn to for the relaxing feeling they get when they light up. The only problem is, cigarettes have the addictive chemical nicotine in them. This can cause your body to become dependent on cigarettes and increase your risk for emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 26.2 million men (23.5 percent) and 20.9 million women (18.1 percent) in the United Sates were smokers as of 2006. If you are one of the many, there are several things you can do to try to quit.
Step 1
Talk about quitting with your peers. If you truly want to give up cigarettes, make a statement to your close friends and family members, who can hold you accountable for staying on track. They can also be there to give you support when you need it.
Step 2
Get rid of the negative influences. Just as you need to have good influences in your life, you also need to get rid of the bad influences. Disassociate with anyone who can bring you down or cause you to become nervous and reach for a cigarette. Also avoid people who smoke and can spark up a craving by hanging out with them.
Step 3
Avoid certain actions. If there were any patterns you followed that involved smoking, stop doing them. For example, if you always smoked while going to certain bars or restaurants, avoid them. Do things that do not involve smoking to keep your mind occupied, like going to the movies, going to the library or walking around at the mall.
Step 4
Rid your house of the evidence. Get rid of all the cigarettes, lighters, matches and any other object that were part of your cigarette smoking rituals. Look through your jackets, pants, glove compartment and drawers for stuff you might have stashed. If you get rid of this stuff, then you will not be tempted to smoke if you were to find something.
Step 5
Occupy your time. Stressful situations can cause you to crave a cigarette. To relieve your stress and become more calm, participate in some form of relaxation activity like yoga, tai chi, muscle relaxation and meditative breathing. You can also partake in daily exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic, 30 minutes of moderate physical activity can make a craving go away.
Step 6
Keep your mouth busy. When you smoke, you not only become chemically dependent, but you also tend to develop an oral fixation. To help prevent this, chew gum, suck on hard candies or use flavored chewing sticks in place of cigarettes.
Step 7
Use stop-smoking aids. Nicotine replacement therapy is characterized by using products that have nicotine in place of cigarettes. You can get these over-the-counter, and they include lozenges, gums and patches.
Step 8
Talk to your doctor about a medication. Prescription formulas can be used to help you quit if lifestyle modifications were not successful. Talk to your doctor about nicotine inhalers, nasal sprays or prescription medications like varenicline and bupropion.
Step 9
See an acupuncturist. Acupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine that has been used for thousands of years. Acupuncture involves fine-tipped needles are inserted into various meridian points on the skin to treat various symptoms and ailments that you are suffering from. Look for an acupuncturist in your area to get this treatment done.
