How to quit smoking

By Juveriya Momin, Registered Pharmacist

It’s never too late to stop smoking. You must have a strong, personal reason to quit. It can be to safeguard your family from secondhand smoke. Reduce your chances of developing lung cancer, heart disease, or other illnesses. Alternatively, you might appear and feel younger.

Choose a reason strong enough to overcome the desire to light up. There’s more to it than simply throwing your cigarettes away. Smoking is considered an addiction. One of the best ways to stop smoking is by taking anti-nicotine gum, quitting smoking tablets, and other options. Inform your friends, family, and close contacts that you are attempting to quit. They can motivate you to keep going, especially when you want to brighten up. You can also join a support group or consult a counselor.

Most smokers understand that it is terrible for their health and damaging to those around them. They know they should quit, but they also understand how difficult it will be. Most people who smoke have attempted to quit previously. Fortunately, there is plenty of support available.

NICOTINE REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS:

Try nicotine replacement products or speak with your doctor about other treatments. The best medicine to stop smoking is nicotine tablets and quit smoking tablets

If you do not like the tablets you can switch to nicotine gums, with the advancement of e-pharmacy you can get the best nicotine gums and you get to compare the nicotine gums of various brands.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK:

One reason individuals smoke is that nicotine helps them relax. Once you’ve quit, you’ll need to find new ways to relax. There are numerous options. You can unwind by exercising, listening to your favorite music, connecting with friends, getting a massage, or dedicating time to your hobbies.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to lessen nicotine cravings and manage frequent withdrawal symptoms. It may also be helpful to know that nicotine withdrawal symptoms improve with time. Try to avoid stressful situations in the first few weeks after quitting smoking.

AVOID ALCOHOL:

You may crave to smoke while consuming beer, wine, spirits, or mixed beverages. When you quit smoking, you may experience a strong desire to smoke when you drink alcohol. So, when you initially quit, attempt to reduce your alcohol intake. Likewise, if you frequently smoke while drinking coffee, switch to tea for a few weeks. Here is some advice for the first few weeks after you quit smoking:

Many people find it beneficial to consume less alcohol or avoid it entirely.
If you do drink, select different alcoholic beverages than you did when smoking.
Stay away from places where you normally consume alcohol.

GET MOVING:

Being active helps reduce nicotine cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. When you feel the urge to smoke, hop on your inline skates or jogging shoes. Avoid negative feelings.

NEGATIVE FEELINGS:

Here are some methods for dealing with these negative emotions:

Remind yourself that these sentiments are only transitory.
Participate in a fun physical activity, such as a walk.
Limit or avoid caffeine-containing beverages like coffee, soda, and tea.
Consider meditation or other relaxation techniques, such as receiving a massage, taking a hot bath, or inhaling deeply from your nose and out through your mouth for 10 breaths.

EAT HEALTHY:

Don’t try to diet while giving up cigarettes. Excessive deprivation can easily backfire. Instead, keep things simple by consuming more fruits, veggies, nutritious grains, and lean protein. These are healthy for the entire body.

Quitters may gain weight owing to an increased appetite. Although the weight gain is usually less than ten pounds, it can be difficult for some people. Here are some suggestions for managing weight gain after quitting:

Balance your physical activity and calorie intake.
This will assist you in achieving and maintaining a desirable weight.
Studies have also found that nicotine replacement therapies, particularly anti-nicotine gum and lozenges, can help prevent weight gain.
A nutritionist or diet counselor can be useful.

Quitting smoking is not that difficult, once you decide, do not change your mind. The best way to start is to quit smoking tablets and nicotine gums. One step at a time, you will see the major difference in yourself.