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You Can Quit Smoking
By Deb Bloom of Gimme One of Each
If you have tried to quit smoking, you know how hard it can be. It's difficult to quit because nicotine is a very addictive drug. For some people, it can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Quitting is hard and many people try 2 or 3 times or more before finally being able to successfully quit. Every time you try, use those attempts to figure out what helps and what hinders you from stopping for good. Good Reasons for Quitting
You will live longer
Quitting will lower your chance of having a heart attack, stroke or cancer.
If you're pregnant, quitting smoking will improve the baby's chances of being healthier.
Those you live with will be healthier.
You will have extra money to spend on other things other than cigarettes. Five Keys for Quitting
1. Get ready
2. Get support
3. Learn new skills and behaviors.
4. Get medication and use it correctly.
5. Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations. GET READY
--Set a quit date.
--Change your environment. Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car and place of work.
--Don't let other people smoke in your home.
--Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what didn't.
--Once you quit, don't smoke - NOT EVEN A PUFF! GET SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT
--Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. It isn't any different than an alcoholic going to AA meetings or a drug addict going to Narcotics Anonymous.
--Tell your family, friends and coworkers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you.
--Talk to your doctor, there are medications that can be prescribed to help you quit. LEARN NEW SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS
--Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, clean the house.
--Change your routine. Use a different route to work, drink tea instead of coffee, eat breakfast in a different place. Stop doing some of the activities that used to make you smoke, like talking on the phone.
--Relieve the stress of smoking cessation with a hot tub bath, exercise or reading a good book.
--Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
--Drink a lot of water and other fluids. GET MEDICATION AND USE IT CORRECTLY
--The FDA has approved medications to help you quit smoking.
Bupropion SR - prescription only
Nicotine gum - over the counter
Nicotine inhaler - prescription only
Nicotine nasal spray - prescription only
Nicotine patch - prescription and over the counter
--Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully read the information on the package.
--All of these medications will more or less double your chances of successfully quitting.
--Everyone who is quitting may benefit from using medication but there are contraindications, so make sure you consult a doctor first. BE PREPARED FOR RELAPSE OF DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting. Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Some of the difficult situations are: --Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your success of quitting.
--Try to avoid being around other smokers.
--Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 lbs. Eat a healthy diet and start an exercise program. Some of the medications may help delay weight gain.
--Be prepared to be in a bad mood. SPECIAL SITUATIONS OR CONDITIONS
EVERYONE can quit smoking. Your situation or condition can give you a special reason to quit.
--Pregnant women - By quitting, you're protecting your baby and their health, not to mention your own.
--Hospitalized patients - Be quitting, you reduce your health problems and help healing.
--Heart attack patients - You reduce your risk of a second heart attack.
--Lung, head and neck cancer patients - By quitting, you reduce your chance of a second cancer.
--Parents of young children - You protect your kids from illnesses and also from the possibility that they will start smoking someday. If you're serious about quitting, you can contact these organizations for further information and help. American Heart Association
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
National Cancer Institute For pregnant women:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Contributor's Note
I am a smoker and did this for myself. Hope it helps someone else out there, too.
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Smoking used to be acceptable
But isn't it gross?
It's so expensive!
Doesn't it make you ugly?
Why would you do that to this angel!
Says it all, right?
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If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://morganna.qondio.com/
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This intel was contributed by Morganna
Morganna
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May, 2012
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