Learn How To Quit Smoking With Ease

May 21, 2009 by  
Filed under Health & Wellness

Nicotine is the chemical in cigarettes that makes them addictive. Higher levels of nicotine in a cigarette can make it harder to quit smoking. A report by the Massachusetts Department of Health found that the amount of nicotine in cigarettes has steadily increased over the last 6 years. Higher nicotine levels were found in all cigarette categories, including “light” brands.

Some researchers feel nicotine is as addictive as heroin. In fact, nicotine has actions similar to heroin and cocaine, and the chemical affects the same area of the brain.

Despite the warning printed on many cigarette packets; many people across the globe are becoming regular addicts to smoking and once you start smoking then it becomes a mountainous task to quit.

The Benefits

First of all there are many benefits to quitting. Many people who smoke do not really care about the health benefits of quitting especially if there are no signs or symptoms of feeling ill. But the truth is that quitting smoking is one of the best things that can ever be done; the benefits are not only health related. Other great benefits include:

  • A great way to save money, a pack a day smoker spends about $1200 per year

  • Food will taste better

  • Clothes, hair and breath will smell better

  • Having more control of your own life without being dependent on cigarettes

And with all that goes the health benefits that will come from quitting smoking, such as lowering your risk of a heart attack, stroke, cancer and being able to breathe better.

Tips to Stop Smoking

Most successful quitters all have the same advice which We must say are very similar in being successful in quitting smoking. We have interviewed several “successful quitters” and this is what they had to say in becoming a successful quitter:

  • Believe in yourself: As smoking is more psychological and less physical addiction you should first have to believe in yourself that you can definitely quit smoking if you want to. You should gather your keen determination and strong will power to start quitting smoking. This is the first very necessary step towards quitting smoking.

  • Write about the reasons of quitting your smoking: Believe us this is very important as when you write something which you want to really achieve in your life then it becomes somewhat easy for you to always remember your target or your goal in your life. So if you write down all the reasons of why you want to quit smoking then it will be very clear to your mind that how important it is for you to quit smoking. And it will also help you to expedite the process of minimizing the smoking habit.

  • Start practicing yoga and other exercises regularly: Yes this will definitely helps you to remove the excessive strains on your body and improve your overall metabolism and blood circulation. Thus it also helps to purify your blood and keeps you fresh and energetic all the time of the day and makes you highly positive which can bring you a surprisingly big change in your life. And there will be no need of cigarettes in your life any more. Only thing the types of yoga and other exercises should be performed with the consultation of your family doctor. Deep breathing for 5-7 minutes and 3-5 times of the day will also aid your process of quitting smoking.

  • Help your other friend or family member in quitting their smoking habit: If there is any of your friend or family member who is also a regular smoker and wants to quit smoking then you can help him or her in this process. Sharing your knowledge and methods to quit smoking with him or her will also encourage you to quit smoking as early as possible.

Other Quick Tips

  • Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in the home and car.

  • Stay and hang around non-smoking designated areas to reduce the urges.

  • Ask for support from family and friends especially to refrain from smoking around you.

  • Keep busy with other tasks especially when urges start up.

  • Always have a nicotine replacement therapy (gum or patch) available for those “just in case times”.

  • Avoid alcohol or coffee as these were the most frequent causes to desire a cigarette.

  • Keep a separate bank to put aside the money saved from not buying cigarettes, and then reward yourself with something else with those savings either weekly or monthly.

All those tips are pretty good but remember that all of them are up to you. If you are not willing to stop smoking you just won’t… So keep in mind what you want and try to follow all this tips!