Though 70% of all smokers want to quit only 3 % succeed, as studies performed in USA revealed, the number may vary especially in Europe where stop smoking services are very active. Stop smoking services have been developed to help all those people who wish to quit but find it so hard because of the side effects and the cravings. A recent survey in UK showed that 30% of young women smoke. Health association are making desperate efforts to make mothers understand that their behavior is not affecting just them but their children too. Stop smoking services have extended programs not just to clinics but to schools too. Many become aware of the risk they expose their family to, and turn to stop smoking services for support. Most of the time stop smoking services are the solution for almost any smoker who wants to quit since succeeding on your own is harder than you could possibly imagine.
The problem with most smokers is that they don’t seek help, they see smoking as something normal and not like an illness. Stop smoking services all around the world fight against this global problem but the success is really in the hands of each smoker. Nicotine patches, nicotine gums, nicotine lozenges, nicotine inhalers or any anti-nicotine products are promoted by stop smoking services. As any doctor suggests, the best method to succeed in the fight against smoking is to combine the anti-nicotine treatments with stop smoking services. Half of all smokers risk to die sooner because of their bad habit, and the problem is that in poor communities help won’t arrive in time. The stop smoking services reported that 1% of all those who followed their advice but didn’t take any medication stopped smoking.
Stop smoking services are present everywhere in the world and support is offered even in remote communities through telephone “green help lines”. Any smoker is recommended to turn to one of the stop smoking services because their staff always includes ex-smokers and their help is crucial. An ex-smoker advice is part of the stop smoking services and it is always appreciated by people who fight against this problem and doctors usually recommend that in the first days after you quit to stay around a person that quit smoking a long time ago. Moreover there are stop smoking services you can benefit from online, there are virtual groups where you deal with your problem and find the sympathy and the support you may need. Good luck!
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
A stop smoking product is a nicotine replacer, this medication does help a lot, in fact studies showed that using a stop smoking product will double your odds to quit smoking. Almost all the stop smoking products are over the counter and don’t require a prescription but it is advisable to ask for the doctor’s opinion or at least read the cautions on the label. One of the most appreciated stop smoking product is the nicotine patch, it slowly releases an amount of nicotine into your body on a longer interval of time. There are patches designed for any kind of smoker so finding the right option is relatively easy in terms of choosing a stop smoking product. The bad thing with patches is that they can cause itching and irritations, they also may give insomnia or other sleep problems. To avoid night anxiety most patients remove the patch.
Another stop smoking product is the nicotine gum, it is usually made of “polacrilex”; this stop smoking product has the advantage of keeping your mouth busy while supplying the needed amount of nicotine into your blood. Nicotine gum is recommended by most doctors as a three-month treatment, and it has the normal side effects associated with stop smoking products. Then come the nicotine lozenges, they are much like a candy and each one melts in about 20 – 30 minutes. This stop smoking product is discreet and may be acquired without any medical prescription. As side effects associated with this stop smoking product we could mention nausea, hiccups and heartburns as the most commonly encountered. A general warning for both nicotine gum and nicotine lozenges is that they can get fixed on dental works so don’t use these products if you have dental problems.
Another appreciated stop smoking product is the nicotine inhaler, the good thing with this solution is that it can be used only when needed and it keeps both your mouth and hands busy. Don’t try inhaling the vapors into the lungs as they are absorbed rapidly in your mouth and throat. This stop smoking product can cause throat and mouth irritations or even coughing. The nicotine nasal spray is another highly popular stop smoking product as nicotine is very quickly absorbed by the body, this alternative works faster than any other. Nasal, sinus and throat problems can appear so use this product carefully.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
No drugs, no patches, gum or other nicotine-based products, then how can one stop smoking naturally? Many scientists point out that those who take the challenge to stop smoking naturally actually get into the toughest experience of their lives. There are two ways to do so. You can either cut off cigarettes now and for good or you can lower the nicotine intake according to a pre-established plan. Let’s have a closer look at these two stop smoking naturally ways and see how efficient they prove. Those who want to stop smoking naturally are usually against other substitutes or are simply unwilling to expose themselves to other symptoms such as dizziness, sleep disorders or headaches that are often associated with them. For the cold turkey stop smoking naturally solution, chances of success are lower and you’ll see why.
First of all, if you want to stop smoking naturally and gradually it is good to make a plan and stick to it by all means. By this I mean that you’ll have to constantly reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke a day. In order to stop smoking naturally, you’ll have to support your body by other means, compensating for the absence of nicotine. For instance, reduce stress, and you won’t feel the urge to smoke so much. You can stop smoking naturally by increasing the amount of sweet fruit you eat a day, since less nicotine means less sugar in the blood. The fructose you’ll get from the diet should compensate, without exposing you to overweight risks. Then you may also support the stop smoking naturally determination by plenty of physical exercises and good body hydration, since thus you eliminate toxins from the system.
In case you choose to stop smoking naturally but abruptly, you’d better be ready for some rough times lying ahead. Unless you master yourself very well and stick to the decision not to smoke, you may not succeed. However, statistics show that this way to stop smoking naturally is highly traumatic for the body since the nicotine withdrawal brings a whole range of cravings. The battle to stop smoking naturally will get you through anxiety, depression, increased stress, headaches, sweating, low energy levels, irritability and so on. You may ease the cravings when you try to stop smoking naturally, by hydration, alternative relaxation methods, lots of physical exercises and even counseling
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
Stop smoking patch treatments have decent rates of success for those who want to quit; the quit smoking patch contains different quantities of nicotine assisting all kinds of smokers. A cigarette usually contains 1 mg of nicotine, so if you are used to smoking half a packet a day then it would be recommended to use a stop smoking patch that contains 14 mg of nicotine in order to help you. Using a stop smoking patch theoretically won’t harm you in any way, it will simply supply your body the amount of needed nicotine while helping you get rid from the routines and habit of smoking. Normally a stop smoking patch costs between 2 and 3 dollars but in some US regions it might even be free, depending on the local anti-smoking campaigns.
The stop smoking patches cost varies not based on the amount of nicotine that they contain but on the size and nature of the adhesive that is used to hold the patch properly. As a cost-cutting technique some people buy stop smoking patches that contain a larger quantity of nicotine and cut them into smaller pieces. Producers say that in this way nicotine from the stop smoking patch won’t be absorbed properly into the body but there isn’t any solid evidence to support or disclaim their point of view. When speaking about the stop smoking patches efficiency we must say that less than 10% of the smokers who try them really solve their problem. If the persons are also well counseled the percentage hits 25%. Maybe the numbers aren’t the best you’ve seen but with the proper life style, the effectiveness of stop smoking patches gets higher.
Statistics show that more than 22% of the smokers who have tried any form of stop smoking patch succeeded. So experts recommend them as being a cheap and good solution for any smoker who wants to quit this deadly habit. As possible side effects of the stop smoking patch we could mention increased level of dreams during sleep time but this was encountered only with the 24 hour quit smoking patches. In several remote cases the patient suffered death when combining a large number of patches with smoking and alcohol, in all reported cases the companies producing the stop smoking patches couldn’t be blamed for the accident as the person didn’t follow medical advice nor did he / she consider the warnings on the patch label.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
It is a common thing for people to prefer taking a stop smoking pill to trying a “Cold Turkey” treatment, the latter being based entirely on self control and very few succeed in it. Drinking a glass of water with a stop smoking pill is easy and appropriate for any active person. Some of the top stop smoking pills are Zyban and Wellbutrin, they are the classical treatments that most doctors recommend. These stop smoking pills when combined with counseling sessions can give very good results to most patients. Zyban is a favorite stop smoking pill known to be a first choice as it favors the blood cleaning by increasing circulation and stimulating several glands. This stop smoking pill will make a person feel like he or she has just smoked a cigarette. Most doctors say that these stop smoking pills fight against the physical problem by eliminating nicotine from the body, but they don’t work on the psychological craving.
Any stop smoking pill must be taken at least for a week and the doctor’s advice is crucial in this time interval to avoid any unpleasant side effects. The prescribed dose of the stop smoking pill usually varies from patient to patient. Several factors are to be taken into consideration, for how many years the person has been smoking, and how much he/she smokes a day, age and other health problems must be noted. Problems like dry mouth and insomnia are common side effects inflicted by any stop smoking pill but these unpleasant symptoms won’t put your health in danger at all. Zyban is a powerful stop smoking pill and after repeated administration it will take about one week or more to disappear from the blood. People who suffer from stomach problems or any pulmonary diseases like bronchitis must avoid this stop smoking pill.
Stop smoking pills mustn’t be administrated to people who are under antidepressant treatments as serious complications can appear. The most important fact when turning to stop smoking pills is that you must consult your doctor before administration. Newer and more complex stop smoking pills have appeared on the market that suppress the nicotine receptors from the persons brain so that if one smokes no satisfaction comes with it. For more information on stop smoking pills and remedies take a look on this site, you will find interesting facts that might help you escape from your smoking problems
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
Many ex-smokers have successfully quit the habit cold turkey. Most,
however, will tell you that they did so with little preparation. Often going
cold turkey is unplanned and spontaneous. It just happens. Usually the
smoker goes cold turkey in response to a major event such as the loss of
a close friend or a loved one to lung cancer. The smoker simply stops,
the event so vivid in their mind that every time the urge to smoke occurs
the urge is zapped.
To succeed at going cold turkey, the smoker either needs to be able to
stay focused on the event or to have a constant reminder. For instance,
a pregnant mom might want to tape the ultrasound picture on her
refrigerator as a reminder of the life growing inside of her. Or the father
of an asthmatic son might be reminded that he needs to make his home
smoke free every time he sees his asthmatic son wheezing and reaching
for his inhaler.
Going cold turkey without a plan does not mean that you can’t still
develop a plan. In fact, it’s always helpful if you develop some definite
goals and enlist the help of family and friends to help you achieve them.
Whether you’re going cold turkey or have designed a plan to quit, you’re
likely to run across feelings of irritability, being tired, and cravings. Here
are some tips to help you survive:
Understand that being irritable, tired, or out of sorts is to be expected.
Make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day.
Do something physical, such as going for a swim or taking a walk, to
keep your mind active and off your cravings.
Surround yourself with support – people who can help you to resist the
temptation to smoke.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
Yes, there is such a thing as a quit smoking action plan. In fact, this one
has worked for countless people just like you. Here’s how it works …
Step One – Set A Quit Date
The first, and possibly most important, part of your quit smoking action
plan is to set a quit date. This is important because it helps you to get
your mind set on quitting before it actually happens. Your set quit date
doesn’t have to be tomorrow, or even next week; in fact, it’s actually best
if you set your quit date about three weeks in advance. This will give you
the opportunity to follow step two in your quit smoking action plan.
Step Two – Start From Within
The second step in your quit smoking action plan is, now that you’ve got
your quit date in mind, you need to get your body ready to handle the
effects of quitting. Since smoking affects your overall health, it only
stands to reason that you should treat your entire body when it comes
time to quit. This is best accomplished by beginning a regimen of multivitamins
and herbal supplements to help strengthen your immune
system; and by changing your diet to reflect a more organic lifestyle. Be
sure to include plenty of fruits and veggies in your quit smoking action
plan, as they will help to flush the toxins from your system.
Step Three – Get Help
The third step in your quit smoking action plan needs to be to join a
support group for people trying to quit smoking about a week before your
scheduled quit date. This will allow you to bond with some new friends
prior to your actual quit date; and will give you a better foundation for
the day when you actually put down those cigarettes for good.
Step Four – “D” Day, No More Smoking!
When the scheduled quit date for your quit smoking action plan comes
around, make sure that all tobacco products and paraphernalia have
been removed from your home the night before. This will help to
eliminate temptation, and help you to stick to your quit smoking action
plan. Start every day with a tall glass of orange or grapefruit juice, and
be sure to include plenty of water in your daily routine so as to flush the
toxins and leftover nicotine from your system even faster. Drinking
orange juice as a part of your quit smoking action plan has also been
shown to reduce nicotine cravings by more than 50%!
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
One way to insure that you succeed in giving up cigarettes is to involve
yourself with a support group. When you feel like giving up, or you
forget why you quit smoking in the first place, they can bolster your
strength and help keep you on course. In addition, they can make sure
you’re responsible for the promises you’ve made regarding your decision
to quit.
Here are some tips for making the most of your support group:
Your support group should consist of those who care about you and are
willing to aid you in your efforts to kick your smoking habit. They can be
your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, boss, church members,
pastor, or a professional support system such as your healthcare
provider, therapist, nurse or a community group for those who have quit
smoking.
Be accountable to one person for the completion of your tasks and goals.
This will help prevent you from cheating and sneaking a cigarette.
Don’t allow anyone to be negative or to constantly nag. Let everyone
know that you’re making this decision to quit smoking and you need to
have positive supporters who will encourage you to achieve your goal.
Be your best supporter by believing in you. Believe that you can be
successful. Support your goal by deliberately stating what it is that you
dislike about your smoking habit. Admit your dependency on nicotine
and don’t underestimate the negative impact it’s had on your body.
An ideal way to support your goal is to keep a Smoke Free Journal so
that you can record all the important steps you take from day 1 right
though the milestones – week 1, month 1, your 3 month anniversary, 6
months, and 1 year of being smoke free. Recording your failures and
triumphs will inspire you later down the road. It may even inspire
someone else to succeed.
Support your goal not only by clearly defining when and how you will
quit smoking, but make sure that you have the information that you
need to cover all the bases regarding any obstacle you may encounter on
your journey to being smoke free. Talk to others in your support group
who have successfully quit. Listen to their helpful tips and ask about
any quit smoking aids they’ve found helpful.
It’s not easy to quit smoking by yourself. Having a support group not
only keeps you accountable for doing what you set out to do, your
support group can remind you why it’s important to you during those
times when the cravings may cause you momentarily forget. They can
help keep you focused. Never forget that you are breaking an addiction
and support is vital.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
Many people prefer to try to kick their nicotine habit naturally, hoping to
become non-smokers without using any artificial means. For this group
there are a number of potential alternatives. For instance, one possible
natural approach is the use of various breathing techniques. Here’s how
it works …
When you begin to experience a nicotine craving, take in a deep breath.
Draw in as much air as you can, then slowly release it. Relax as much
as possible as you are breathing out. Close your eyes and let your chin
rest on your chest. As the air leaves your body, imagine your stress
leaving with it. This relaxation method is very effective. Whenever you
crave a cigarette, run through your breathing process three times and
see how much better you feel.
There are other natural things you can do to help get through the early
difficult days of quitting. Go swimming, jog, or take long walks. Get a
massage, go for a steam bath, sit in a hot tub or go dancing with friends.
Change your daily routines so that those times you would normally reach
for a cigarette are replaced with other activities.
During the first week make sure you drink plenty of water and other
liquids, though coffee and alcohol are discouraged during this early
phase. Drinking liquids helps to flush the nicotine out of your system.
Another natural approach is the use of herbs. The herb most widely
used in stop smoking herbal blends is Lobelia. The Lobelia plant
contains Lobeline – a nicotine like substance. Lobeline replaces nicotine
without creating a new addiction. The result is that you can throw all of
your cigarettes packs in the garbage bin without being a victim of the
nasty carvings and withdrawal symptoms.
Cutting out foods that are not organic, that contain high levels of sugar,
or that are heavily processed and packaged is also a natural option. By
changing to a more natural lifestyle, you will be treating your overall
health, rather than just the addiction to nicotine.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking
There are not many choices if you’re looking for a medication to help you
to quit smoking. In fact, the best place to start is with a visit to your
doctor, who can explain your options and recommend what he believes
will work best for you.
Having said that, currently the most popular medication for helping
smokers kick their habit is Zyban (Bupropion hydrochloride). Zyban
does not contain nicotine, so you can continue to smoke when you first
begin to take it and as you wean yourself off cigarettes altogether. While
it doesn’t contain nicotine, Zyban does give your body the impression
that it does, so you won’t experience the intensity of the usual symptoms
associated with quitting smoking.
According to clinical trials, “treatment with Zyban reduced withdrawal
symptoms compared to placebo. Reductions on the following withdrawal
symptoms were most pronounced: irritability, frustration, or anger;
anxiety; difficulty concentrating; restlessness; and depressed mood or
negative effect. Depending on the study and the measure used,
treatment with Zyban showed evidence of reduction in craving for
cigarettes or urge to smoke compared to placebo.”
Zyban is recommended for those who cannot use nicotine medications
and for those who’ve tried other products unsuccessfully. It’s also highly
recommended for those concerned with weight gain, as it prevents this.
You will, of course, require a prescription from your doctor to use Zyban.
In fact, for those with a severe smoking addiction, your doctor may
prescribe a combination of Zyban and a nicotine patch or a gum for best
results.
Zyban’s success rates have ranged as high as 58%, though most studies
resulted in a success rate between 15%-25%.
The most common side effects experienced with Zyban include dry
mouth and difficulty sleeping. There are also other risks associated with
its use, so it’s important to talk with your healthcare professional to see
whether Zyban is right for you.
Quit Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Stop Smoking