Tips on How to Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker and want to give up smoking then here’s some pointers to help you quit. Not only will you breath better, reduce the risk of lung cancer but you will also reduce your health insurance costs in the process. Or, if you keep smoking, your premiums will be far higher than a non-smoker.

There are so many reasons to want to quit smoking. Smokers have bad breath, higher risk of cardiac illnesses, and greater chances of lung cancer and lung diseases. However, most people who wish to quit smoking find it very difficult to do so. Here are some tips that will help you to give up smoking and reclaim your life:

Quit Cold Turkey

It’s hard to quit smoking because of the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine is an addiction, and once you quit your nicotine intake, your body starts to crave nicotine. Don’t make it harder for yourself by reducing your nicotine intake gradually, or imbibing nicotine slowly from other sources like patches or pills.

If you quit cold turkey, you may have intense cravings over the next 72 hours. However, your cravings will reduce drastically, until after a month or two you won’t crave nicotine at all.

Don’t have “just one puff” or try to reduce cigarettes gradually

Any time you give into temptation and have “just one puff” you’ll re-introduce nicotine addiction into your body. As a former smoker, one cigarette will cause your body to go into nicotine withdrawal, and you’ll go through the whole process again. I’m sure you know former ex-smokers who gave in one day – and were back to smoking one pack daily within a few days. Don’t let that happen to you: quit completely, and don’t give in to temptation by thinking that it’ll be “just one cigarette”.

Try electronic cigarettes

If you really can’t quit smoking, try to avoid the impact of all those carcinogens by using electronic cigarettes. They don’t have tar, or any other carcinogens found in regular cigarettes and tobacco. However, they will satisfy your nicotine cravings, and are healthier than any of the more common forms of nicotine. Of course, this is a last resort if you simply can’t quit. Electronic cigarettes have not been approved by many medical associations.

Eat regularly

Nicotine affects the body’s blood sugar levels. For smokers, blood sugar levels go up immediately after eating. However, for non-smokers, it takes a while for blood sugar levels to increase. If you’ve quit smoking, it’s very important to eat regularly in order to avoid feeling too hungry or encountering low blood sugar situations.

Deal with stress naturally

Many smokers smoke in order to deal with stress. However, think back to a time when you weren’t a smoker, maybe when you were fourteen or fifteen. You faced difficult and stressful situations, and dealt with them without resorting to nicotine. You could do it then, so surely you can deal with stress now that you’re older and more mature, without needing cigarettes as your crutch. It may seem difficult at first, but over time you’ll find that you’re actually able to deal with stress better without cigarettes. 

Warn your family

Most smokers suffer from mood swings when they quit smoking. They may be slightly more grumpy, irritable, or just not very cheerful for the first few days. It’s important to warn your family that this might happen, so that they understand what you’re going through and are supportive of your efforts. 

Quit for yourself

Never quit for someone else, do it for yourself: you are the one who stands to benefit. For instance, your spouse may be begging you to quit, and you might think you’re doing them a favour by quitting. But the next time you have a fight, you’ll wonder why you bothered to quit, and may start smoking again. Understand that it’s in your own interest to quit, and you’re not quitting for anyone else.

It may be difficult for the first few days of the quit, but remember that you’re going through those days to gain a lifetime that’s smoke-free.