Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is one of the best health improvement actions anyone can do, but quitting is very hard. Usually people make 5 to 7 attempts or more before they are finally able to quit. Anyone can quit smoking if they are motivated enough. It does not matter about age, health, or lifestyle.

Having a quit plan is important and the support of others is also an important ingredient. One common way to try and quit smoking is to try it “cold turkey”. Quitting smoking using the cold turkey method is the first choice of the majority of smokers. The cold turkey is usually understood to mean to quit smoking abruptly, often without forethought, preparation or a gradual reduction in amount smoked. While going cold turkey is the most popular method it is probably the hardest and most uncomfortable method. Craving and withdrawal symptoms can include irritability, tiredness, headache, coughing, sore throat, sleeplessness, sweating, and lack of concentration, depression, increased appetite, and cravings for tobacco. When they are suffering the normal withdrawal symptoms associated with cold turkey that can be difficult and that is why the majority give in and begin smoking again. 95 % of smokers who try to stop smoking without the help of therapy or medication end up relapsing. The main obstacle to stopping smoking using the cold turkey method is the willpower.

Another method used by smokers is the nicotine replacement therapy. The nicotine withdrawal is the most difficult part in quitting smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy involves the use of products that provide low doses of nicotine but do not contain the toxins found in smoke. The goal of therapy is to reduce cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms when someone stops using cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Nicotine supplements come in gum, inhalers, lozenges, nasal spray and skin patches. You can buy nicotine gum or lozenges without a prescription. Some people prefer lozenges to the patch, because they can control the nicotine dosage. The nicotine inhaler looks like a plastic cigarette holder, but requires a prescription. People who use the inhaler can puff up to 16 times a day. The inhaler is quick acting and about the same as the gum. The nasal spray satisfies the immediate cravings by providing quick doses of nicotine and it may be used along with the patch. The levels of nicotine peak within 5 - 10 minutes after using the spray. The spray can irritate the nose, eyes, and throat and the side effects often go away within the first few days. The main pitfalls to these methods are body discomfort, cost and availability of the products.

Another technique is prescription pills. These pills help to reduce the cravings by affecting the chemicals in the brain makes smoking less satisfying. Varenicline is an oral prescription medication that is used to help people quit smoking. Varenicline works by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain preventing the nicotine in cigarettes from producing its pleasurable effects on the smoker. Side effects of varenicline are usually transient and may include headache, insomnia, abnormal dreams, nausea, fatigue and flatulence. Bupropion is an oral prescription medication that can help you stop smoking. You may continue smoking during the first week of treatment, but you should stop sometime during the second week. You should be aware that your blood pressure may increase while you are on bupropion, blurred vision and headaches. Other side effects of bupropion include agitation, anxiety, abdominal pain, and decrease in appetite, dizziness and dry mouth. Many people do not have access to a health insurance that will help support the cost of such a therapy.

There are pitfalls to all methods in quitting smoking. Willpower, lack of support from others, addiction, habit patterns of use, cost of products or replacement activities are just a few. Considering that smoking is an addiction that chemically changes has occurred in the brain and makes it very difficult to quit.