How to Quit Smoking
How to Quit Smoking
Many people like you have quit smoking. You can too. Counseling, medications, and other supports can help you quit. The most effective way to quit is to have a plan and proper support. Pick a quit date, talk to a smoking cessation counselor and see if any nicotine replacement therapy or medications will help you.
Are you ready to quit?
Most people smoke for a few reasons. Before you set your quit date you need to prepare. Take time to think about when, where, and why you smoke. If you understand your smoking habits and triggers, you'll have a better chance at success.
Why quitting is so tough
Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco contain a powerful, addictive drug – nicotine. If you smoke, your body and brain get used to nicotine.
Manage Your Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal is your body's response to being without the nicotine drug. Each person has their own set of withdrawal symptoms. For some, withdrawal won’t feel so bad. For others, it will feel horrible. However, they won’t last forever. They usually become less noticeable after the first 4-5 days.
Benefits of Quitting
Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health and quality of life. Non-smokers have a much lower risk of getting dozens of smoking-related diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
How to help someone quit smoking
One of the best things you can do for a friend is help them quit smoking. Those who smoke need support, not criticism when they’re trying to quit smoking. A good support system is important to help them get through withdrawal symptoms and stay motivated about their choice to quit smoking for good.
Facts about Smoking
Smoking damages your lungs' natural cleaning and repair system and traps cancer-causing chemicals in. Smoking permanently damages the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs, making it hard to breathe.
What's in cigarettes?
Cigarettes are made from tobacco. The tobacco plant contains a drug called nicotine. Nicotine is a deadly poison – it can kill a person in less than an hour if even a small amount is injected into the blood stream. Tobacco smoke contains very tiny amounts of nicotine that aren't deadly, but are still very bad for your health.
Second-hand smoke is also dangerous
Even if you yourself don't smoke, you can still get sick or die from tobacco. When you breathe the smoke from another person's cigarette, it can be as bad as smoking cigarettes yourself.