The biggest reason to quit smoking is also the most obvious: it is bad for your health. Tobacco smoke has over seven thousand toxic chemicals that are toxic and damage your health to the point of death. Three chemicals are the most dangerous – tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide.
So, if you have finally decided to quit smoking, we have listed below the five best ways to achieve this milestone and improve your health.
Read on to learn more!
Opt for Nicotine Replacement Therapy
If you choose to go tobacco-free, you ought to come prepared for the withdrawal symptoms. Since tobacco contains nicotine, it is highly addictive, especially if one has been smoking tobacco for many years.
Some nicotine withdrawal symptoms include anger, frustration, inability to concentrate, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and an increased appetite. To combat the withdrawal symptoms, you might want to opt for nicotine replacement therapy – after consulting with your doctor.
With the right nicotine replacement, you won’t give in to the craving but find an efficient way to curb those unhealthy urges. Studies have shown that tobacco patches, nicotine gums, and lozenges can help curb those cravings and increase your chances of success in your tobacco-quitting journey.
You might want to consult your doctor and opt for prescription pills to help you curb tobacco cravings.
You can, however, also cut yourself some slack from the replacement and opt for the healthier route of hitting the gym. The underlying trick is to ignore the cravings and distract yourself by working out, connecting with friends, treating yourself to a spa session, and making time for another hobby.
Before you go cold turkey, you might want to have a contingency plan ready on how to deal with the withdrawal symptoms.
Find Your Motivation
Believe it or not, if you have a solid reason that pushes you every day to reach your goal of leading a tobacco-free life, you are more likely to beat all odds and succeed in your goal. When it comes to challenges, including beating the tobacco addiction, it can get a bit demanding, which is why you need to change your mindset before signing up for any nicotine replacement therapy or counseling.
For some people, quitting things is easy; however, for others, it is all about shifting their mindset and readjusting their attitude to quit smoking successfully. That said, find your inner motivation. You might have become a parent and would want to protect your loved ones from the potential damages of passive smoking.
You get the point – choose a reason that will excite you and then go against all odds to succeed. Strong will and discipline are required for success.
Switch to E-Cigs
We know that cravings are hard to resist – however when it comes to tobacco cravings, these are too strong and quite irresistible. If you can relate, you might want to try vaping and make a smoother transition from smoking to non-smoking.
E-cigs have proven useful – in fact, better than any other nicotine replacement theory. Many people have turned to e-cigs in an attempt to quit smoking as these contain fewer harmful toxins than regular tobacco cigarettes.
Another potential benefit of switching to e-cigs is that you will still get to smoke and socialize but minus the inhalation of harmful toxins and the subsequent damage to your lungs and health. It is important to mention here that you should only switch to e-cigs if you plan to stop smoking tobacco products altogether.
The government health officials of the UK have stated that switching to e-cigs increases the chances of giving up smoking altogether since going cold turkey isn’t for everyone. In fact, according to research, only an average of four people out of a hundred succeed at going cold turkey for six months.
The Takeaway
When it comes to quitting smoking, you should remember that time is on your side. As soon as you quit smoking tobacco, you will start noticing the enormous health benefits that come with it. Your chances of dying from heart disease or lung cancer decrease only after two weeks. You won’t only feel young but also look young the more you get rid of the side effects of smoking.
