This year is your year to finally quit smoking. It won’t be an easy feat, but the health benefits that come with quitting are immense. Smoking is an expensive habit puts you at risk of emphysema, cancer, and heart disease, among other things. According to the CDC, smoking can shave off at least ten years of your life expectancy. [1] Your body and your wallet deserve better than this. Reboot your life today and find a way to stop smoking once and for all.
It is incredibly difficult to quit smoking. You may have even tried to quit before, but found it too difficult to avoid picking the habit up again after a few days, weeks, or months. But just because you weren’t able to quit smoking before, does not mean that you should give up trying to quit. Relapse rates are incredibly high, especially in the first few months. [2]
Luckily, there are many ways you can avoid a relapse. All that you have to do is choose the approach an approach that’s right for you. We have compiled a list of the best ways to quit smoking so that you can save your lungs and your money for good this time.
Nicotine-Free Aids
Anyone that wants to put a full stop to nicotine use should cut the drug out completely. If you are determined, this approach can be very effective. Here is a list with some of the best nicotine-free aids:
–Bupropion is among the most potent medications you can use to break nicotine addiction. Your doctor will probably start you off with this because it’s so effective.
–Nortriptyline is another drug that your doctor might prescribe. Nortriptyline can be used in combination with bupropion, or by itself. However, nortriptyline can cause strong side effects, unlike bupropion.
–Clonidine can be prescribed when other drug treatments fail. But watch out as this drug can also have severe side effects.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Some people do much better when they wean themselves slowly off of cigarettes through nicotine replacement therapy. This approach gradually reduces your nicotine dependency and helps you avoid the pitfalls of quitting cold turkey.
Most often, doctors will recommend transdermal patches which let your skin absorb nicotine. [3] With these patches, patients have the option of reducing their strength over a period of months or years.
There are also other nicotine replacement treatments available such as:
–Nicotine Gum is offered by dozens of companies and can be as effective as other forms of treatment.
–Nicotine Inhalers might suit some smokers better, and they don’t come with harmful chemicals that you otherwise get from electronic or regular cigarettes. However, you will need a doctor’s prescription.
–Nasal Sprays also require a doctor’s prescription, but they are a viable option for anyone that wants to stop smoking.
Quit Smoking with Behavioral Therapy
While the aids and replacement therapies outlined above reduce withdrawal symptoms and curb dependency, they don’t help with habits formed by smoking. This includes things like picking up a pack of cigarettes at the gas station or smoking with coffee. That’s why you might benefit from behavioral therapy. This treatment will help keep up motivation as your going through withdrawal symptoms and pick up new and healthy habits.
Don’t Endanger Your Health Any Longer
Most people aren’t able to make it through withdrawal symptoms on their own and stay cigarette-free. The majority of smokers will relapse without setting up proper support and using effective aids to quit smoking.
Before you decide to quit, make sure you do your research to find the solution that will best suit your particular case. This includes searching online, consulting your doctor and getting a prescription for the treatment you have decided on. Don’t forget to compare the available options before choosing a course of treatment. Also, remember that searching online is usually the easiest and best way to find all the information you need, even before you talk to your doctor.
[1]https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/index.htm
[2]https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-02/cfta-srr022702.php
[3]https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking.html
