Smoking is a habit that has been around for thousands of years. It was first thought that it came with medical benefits. In the past century, research has shown that this is not the case. Over the past 100 years, medical scientists have discovered that cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals that can cause cancer.
Step 1
Make a plan. The experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend setting a date ahead of time for when you will begin your smoking cessation. Make sure this date does not coincide with other stressful periods of your life because quitting smoking can be a stressful time for a smoker. It will be more difficult to quit during stressful portions of your life.
Step 2
Use nicotine products. Nicotine is a naturally occurring addictive substance in cigarettes. This substance is what makes you crave a cigarette. Scientists believe nicotine is not carcinogenic (causes cancer). The use of nicotine products such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches and electronic cigarettes will reduce your cravings for cigarettes, as well as reduce your risk for lung cancer.
Step 3
Gradually reduce the amount of nicotine products. Nicotine is not a carcinogen, but it has detrimental effects on your health, such as raising your blood pressure. Slowly reduce your nicotine consumption over a period of six to eight weeks, after which time, you may stop consuming nicotine altogether.
References
- CDC: Smoking
- Mayo Clinic.com: Lung Cancer
- MayoClinic.com: Quit Smoking
- E-Cigarette Direct: Facts About Nicotine
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (16th edition)"; Lawrence Madoff et al; 2005
