Smoking is not only unhealthy, but it endangers those around you. If can cause heart attacks, emphysema, lung cancer, throat cancer and many other serious health issues. Second-hand smoke is dangerous too. These are just a few reasons that quitting is so very important. The piece that follows includes many great ideas for achieving success at quitting.
In order to succeed with your goal of quitting smoking, you should do so in as easy of a method as you possibly can. Cold turkey may not be the most effective approach for you. This method of quitting has a 95 percent failure rate. Your chances of success are the greatest with nicotine-replacement therapy or medication. These things will help you with any withdrawal symptoms you may experience, and make quitting successfully much more likely.
If you feel that you need to smoke a cigarette, first try to delay that action. Tell yourself that you have to take a walk before you can smoke, or even just finish a large glass of water before you smoke. Often, you will find that just giving your mind some time and something to occupy itself with you will be able to get past the craving without having to smoke. If you still feel you need that cigarette, delaying it may mean you will be smoking at least one less on that particular day.
Getting in shape will help you to kick the habi,t by distracting you from cravings and restoring your health. Exercise can go a long way to reducing the stress brought on by nicotine withdrawals. If you do not exercise normally, you can start by taking short walks outside daily. Speak to your physician before beginning an exercise routine.
Rest is key if you want to seriously quit smoking. Staying up late can elevate fatigue, increasing cravings for a cigarette. In addition, it’s easy to succumb to the temptation to smoke when it’s late at night and everyone else is already asleep. Having eight hours to rest every night will keep you focused and it will be easier for you to control your cravings.
When the temptation to smoke overwhelms you, using stalling tactics to make yourself wait. If you do something else and then re-evaluate your feelings after a few minutes, you’ll find that the worst of the cravings are gone. If this does not happen right away, keep repeating this technique.
Nicotine Replacement
Consider using a nicotine replacement-type of therapy. Withdrawals from nicotine can cause feelings of frustration, irritability, depression and restlessness. A lot of the cravings are quite overwhelming. Using a nicotine replacement therapy will help you to battle against the temptation. People who use these products have twice as much likelihood of quitting for good as those who go cold turkey. Be careful not to use these products while still smoking, though.
Avoid your triggers to stop smoking with more success. Consider alternate activities during the times you normally would have had a cigarette. Look for constructive activities and distractions, to occupy your mind during those periods.
Try to not smoke as much. This can be an effective way to begin the process of eliminating smoking. Do not smoke in the first hour when you wake up if you are planning on having a cigarette. Try smoking just half a cigarette when you do smoke to cut down a little at a time.
Do some exercising. Once you stop smoking, it will be easier to exercise since your lung capacity will improve right away. You will also avoid gaining weight. While exercising, endorphins are produced, which can help cope with the symptoms of withdrawal.
Health Risks
Smoking is a dangerous and unhealthy activity. Many of the major life threatening health risks are associated with the smoking of tobacco products. Emphysema, lung cancer and heart attacks are a few examples of the horrible health risks. In addition to dangers to your own health, smoking also endangers everyone around you in the form of second-hand smoke. By reading the information in this article, you should now be well informed enough to successfully stop smoking.