Quitting tobacco is hard but not impossible. And the benefits of quitting far out-weigh the difficulties. Remember, help is at hand if only you make the first move.
Why is it so Hard to Quit?It’s hard to tackle the physical addiction to nicotine. Cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance found naturally in tobacco. It travels quickly to the brain when it is inhaled and can cause a feeling of temporary relaxation and/or stress relief. Nicotine can also elevate your mood and your heart rate. But this feeling is only temporary. After your body rids itself of the drug, you start to crave another cigarette.
I’ve Tried to Quit too many Times. Why Should it be D ifferent now?Most people make several attempts to quit before they succeed. People who keep trying to quit are the ones who eventually do. Learn from past mistakes and identify stumbling blocks, which can be overcome by proper planning.
How Will I Feel when I Quit?You may feel edgy and irritable. You also may get angry or upset faster, have trouble concentrating and feel hungrier than usual. You may have headaches and cough more at first (while your lungs are clearing out). All of these can be symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine. Keep in mind that the worst symptoms will be over in a few days. However, you may still have cravings for tobacco. Those cravings have less to do with nicotine addiction and more to do with the habit of smoking.
I am Planning to Quit but my Friends Smoke.Ask them if they are willing to quit. If not, ask them to help you by not smoking in your presence.
How Can I Help Someone I Know to Quit Smoking?
You can do several things. For example, you can express concern about the smoker’s
health or the way he or she looks. You can also suggest a definite quit plan and
provide support to him or her during the process of quitting.
However, there are some crucial don’ts as well. Do not ask somebody to quit unless
he or she is inclined to it and do not ever criticize, nag or remind the smoker
about past failures.
Doctors, dentists and pharmacists can be good sources of information about the health risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting. They can describe the proper use and potential side effects of nicotine replacement therapy and other medicines.
What about Over-the-Counter Nicotine Replacement Products?These products may help you if you feel like you can't quit on your own or you have serious withdrawal symptoms. But don't use nicotine replacement products without talking to your doctor first. These products were not designed for teens and could make you sick if you use them the wrong way. You may need to follow special instructions
Is it a stress-buster?One of the most common reasons given for using tobacco is stress, and it is a common belief that using tobacco relieves stress and has a relaxing effect. But does it really reduce anxiety and stress? Surprisingly the answer is no, not at all. Tobacco use actually increases stress and the effects of stress on your body. The chemicals in tobacco, especially nicotine, have a wide variety of effects on the body, including the release of chemicals in the brain that temporarily increase feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Beware though, this is only masking the stress and anxiety, and the feeling is short lived.
Do you grab a cigarette when you feel stressed or anxious? Stress, whether it’s from your job, relationships, care giving burdens or just plain fast-paced living, can cause you to look for fast and easy relief.But in the long run, smoking will only add to your stress by taking away your good health. To successfully quit smoking, you may need to think through your stress-management options before you quit.
I Want to Quit but Tobacco helps me Cope with Stress and relaxes me. How will I do Without it?Tobacco does not relieve stress or boredom; it merely deals with the withdrawal symptoms. What feels like stress is actually caused by craving.When you stop smoking you are withdrawing from nicotine and from a powerful habit. It takes time to clear the drug from the body and break the habit. You may get irritated and find it difficult to concentrate but these symptoms don’t last more than a few weeks.
I don’t know Whether I‘ll be able to Handle it. In my Previous Quit Attempt, I Suffered so much that I Preferred Cancer to the Withdrawal and Started Again.Most people do not succeed on their first attempt. That cannot be a deterrent. It takes several quit attempts before you give up completely. Think about why it did not work before and avoid those situations. There are also a number of therapies that can help you in the process. Take one day at a time.
My Friend who Quit Tobacco was very Irritable and had a Hard time Concentrating. Will that Happen to me if I Quit?Irritability and loss of concentration are normal symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Some users have few or no withdrawal and some have a number of symptoms. Some other physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms are nervousness; feeling of being lightheaded; sleep disturbances; fatigue; constipation; mouth sores, headache, hunger, depression and cravings. Most symptoms pass within two to four weeks after quitting. If you do decide to quit, there are different medications that can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms. The bottom line is that withdrawal is transient and can definitely be taken care of.
I am a Social Smoker. Am I at Less Risk?No. The term ‘social smoker’ often refers to someone who doesn’t smoke on a daily basis but may have a few when on a night out. This is sometimes referred to as binge smoking. However it is less harmful to smoke 10 cigarettes in one night and then abstain for a fortnight than smoke one or two each day. This is because the body has time to recover in the interim period. The problem with binge smoking is that it can damage the immune system, make you vulnerable to mouth ulcers and throat infections and cough as the lungs try to get rid of all the chemicals.
Is it too Late?It’s never too late to quit. The effects of tobacco use are reversible after cessation, at any age. Take one day at a time. It's a cliché but it works. Make your goal to get through today without smoking. It's easier to do this each morning rather than worry about how you'll manage without cigarettes for the rest of your life.
Should Someone already Diagnosed with Cancer Bother to Quit Smoking?Yes. People diagnosed with cancer should definitely quit smoking. Those undergoing surgery or other treatments will see that quitting smoking helps improve the body’s ability to heal and respond to the cancer treatment. Quitting smoking may also lower the risk of the cancer returning or a second cancer forming. It also lowers the risk of pneumonia and respiratory failure.
Are there Healthier Options?No, they are not. People who use low tar/low nicotine cigarettes end up smoking more and inhaling more frequently and deeply to compensate for the low nicotine levels in these cigarettes. No tobacco is healthy tobacco.
Are there Alternative Methods to help People quit Smoking?Some people claim that alternative approaches such as hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy and electro-stimulation help reduce the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal. However, clinical studies have not shown that these alternative approaches help people quit smoking.
Is Chewing Tobacco as bad as Cigarettes?Yes. Both cigarettes and chewing tobacco are toxic to your body. You may hear more about the harm cigarettes do to the body, but chewing tobacco can also hurt your health. Chewing tobacco can cause sores and white patches in your mouth, as well as diseases and cancers of the mouth, gums and throat. Chewing can give you bad breath, discolor your teeth and cause tooth loss. And one chew contains 15 times the nicotine of a cigarette (meaning the risk of addiction is much higher).
Does tobacco enhance enjoyment?Stop fooling yourself. Not only is a tobacco user’s life shorter, it is definitely more miserable. How else would you describe a life spent searching for the next smoke, a life full of stained nails, smelly clothes and hacking coughs?
Does Tobacco Affect my Sense of Smell and Taste?How important is your sense of smell? Don’t disregard the pleasure you get from smelling flowers, fresh air, food cooking in the kitchen. Since smell is connected to the ability to taste, try to imagine your future without the flavors of pizza, chocolate ice cream sundaes, or ice-cold lemonade. On a more serious note, you need your sense of smell to detect certain dangers, including chemicals, gas leaks, and smoke. Lucky for you, 48 hours after you quit smoking your sense of smell begins to return to normal. Then, if you feel the urge for a smoke or dip, do something refreshing.
What's the Real deal with Tobacco?Tobacco is toxic (poison) to your body. It causes health problems and may lead to early death. On top of that, tobacco is addictive. This means that once you start using it, your body starts to need it. The longer you use tobacco, and the more you use, the harder it is to stop. Everyone who smokes started by "just trying it." That's how the habit and the addiction begin.
If you smoke, it's not too late to make a change. To quit, you must break your addiction to nicotine and your habit of smoking. Your habit is the behavior that goes with your tobacco use, such as getting out of school and lighting a cigarette.
