Tips for Quitting Smoking
Smoking is a very common and harmful habit that can cause harm to almost every organ in the body. It is also associated with numerous illnesses like COPD, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. If you are an asthma patient, smoking can trigger an asthma attack or worsen your symptoms. Smoking can also lead to heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease, which are listed among the major causes of smoking-related deaths.
Thankfully, we have some simple smoking cessation tips to help:
1. Drink lots of water
Water plays a significant role when you want to quit smoking. You can also change your drink. Avoid drinks that make smoking taste better. You can try holding your water with the hand that holds cigarettes or drink your water using a straw. Drinking a lot of water helps calm the side effects of cigarette cravings. It also helps one to stay hydrated. Water will help flush out the nicotine in your body.
2. Don’t hang with friends who smoke
It can be very hard for you to quit smoking if you are still friends with people who smoke. If you are close to people who smoke, you are most likely to feel tempted and start smoking again. Non-smoking friends will influence you in your journey of quitting smoking. If you cannot avoid them completely, ask them not to smoke near you.
3. Clean your clothes and car
If you smoke inside your car, make sure you clean it. Clean your clothes as well as a step of quitting smoking. Cleaning will help get rid of the smell that might remind you of smoking.
4. Write down daily reminders about why you want to quit
You have to remind yourself from time to time why you are quitting smoking. Read them whenever you feel you require support. Writing down these reminders will help you stay focused.
5. Rid home of smoking paraphernalia
Smoking paraphernalia can attract you to smoking. When you see your lighter and your cigarettes near you, your mind may trigger you to use them. Quitting smoking is a huge decision that will need you to get rid of all the tools you use to smoke.
6. Seek medication and therapy
Multiple techniques have helped other individuals to stop smoking. Some methods may not work for you as they have worked for another person. Sometimes you will have to try many methods to find the one that will work best for you. With nicotine replacement therapy, you will use nicotine substitutes like a nicotine patch, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenges. This method helps relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms by administering small doses of nicotine to your body to break the addiction.
7. Seek support through other non-smokers
Talk to your family and friends about your decision to quit smoking so they will support you. However, look for some support smoking cessation programs within your location. Nowadays, there are many groups like these. These programs help smokers and advise them as they start their journey to quit smoking.
8. Learn how to manage your cigarettes cravings
Avoiding cigarette cravings might not be that easy. The best part is, cravings do not last for a long time. You can distract yourself by washing the dishes, taking a shower, chewing gum, or working out. Whenever you have these cravings, tell yourself that they are not here to stay since they can last only for 5 to 10 minutes. It will give you methods to cope responsibly with cravings.