Tobacco is a killer. People who smoke or use other forms of tobacco are more likely to develop diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases the risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
If you smoke, you expose your health to a high risk for different illnesses which might get you worried depending on the individual.
How to quit smoking: Read the action plan
You must decide to stop smoking. You might want to see to pick a stop date, that is fine. Be informed that most people don't succeed the first time they try to quit. It may take more than one try, but you can stop smoking.
Making the decision is one thing but keeping to it is another part. You need to get supports not because you are not strong but because sometimes the urges can become a bit hard to handle. You can get support from health care personnel, family, counselor, friends, you can even join support groups.
Prepare yourself, mind, and body for the challenges that come with the switch of quitting. You have to discipline yourself, avoid places that can make you smoke, gathering with friends that smoke, and put away everything around you that can serve as a temptation. If you need to socialize go to places that smoking isn't allowed.
If you smoke, you expose your health to a high risk for different illnesses which might get you worried depending on the individual.
How to quit smoking: Read the action plan
You must decide to stop smoking. You might want to see to pick a stop date, that is fine. Be informed that most people don't succeed the first time they try to quit. It may take more than one try, but you can stop smoking.
Making the decision is one thing but keeping to it is another part. You need to get supports not because you are not strong but because sometimes the urges can become a bit hard to handle. You can get support from health care personnel, family, counselor, friends, you can even join support groups.
Prepare yourself, mind, and body for the challenges that come with the switch of quitting. You have to discipline yourself, avoid places that can make you smoke, gathering with friends that smoke, and put away everything around you that can serve as a temptation. If you need to socialize go to places that smoking isn't allowed.
Find a healthy replacement for your smoking habit. Living smoke-free is a healthier way to live. Instead of using nicotine to help cope with stress use over-the-counter nicotine patches (A nicotine patch is a transdermal patch that releases nicotine into the body through the skin. It is used in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a process for smoking cessation), gum and lozenges. Prescription non-nicotine stop-smoking medications such as bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).
Staying active but avoiding stress is key to balancing your cravings and staying distracted. Drink lots of water, stay active keep your mind and hands busy. Eat mints, carrot or celery sticks, gum, or sunflower seeds when craving.
At the end of the day, you need to put in hard work which involves core discipline. You are in charge of that ship, don't let Nicotine control you, do your best to beat this addiction while also starting a healthy lifestyle. Don't forget no one said it's easy but remember it's worth it.
