Saturday, February 21, 2009

What's the Best Way to Quit Smoking? by Pat Lowe



There are countless techniques that claim to help you quit smoking. But are any of them for real? Here's a look at a few popular approaches. Find out for yourself if they can live up to their promises. Medications
Nicotine patches are a popular method for quitting smoking. They work by slowly decreasing the amount of nicotine that you ingest each day. This helps to ease the symptoms of withdrawal once nicotine is gone from your system completely.
A hot new pharmaceutical product is Chantix, a quit smoking pill. This medication causes the release of dopamine, a feel good chemical in your brain. The brain experiences the same effect as if nicotine were present in your bloodstream. Using this form of treatment, withdrawal symptoms are virtually nonexistent.
It's important to note that using medications to help you stop smoking isn't always the complete answer. That's because it's not just a chemical addiction you're dealing with. Smoking is also psychologically addictive, which is equally difficult to deal with.
Quitting Cold Turkey
Most people will try this method first when they decide it's time to stop smoking. This is a rather brutal approach that means just stopping; no medications and no slowly tapering down. Although it's popular, it's not necessarily the most successful method.
Most people who smoke are addicted to the large quantities of nicotine that are contained in cigarettes. It's an extremely addictive substance, and if you don't get your fix, you'll exhibit withdrawal symptoms right away. Quitting cold turkey heightens the withdrawal effect, and your symptoms will go on for at least two weeks.
The hard part is to learn how to take your mind off these symptoms when they come over you. Many people find this too difficult and eventually give in to their cravings.
Substitution
This technique involves replacing smoking with some other activity or behavior. Some people pop a candy in their mouth or chew some gum whenever they feel the need for a smoke. Sometimes this will help to satisfy the oral fixation by giving your mouth something else to do.
Other people substitute exercise for smoking. If they feel they need a smoke, they choose instead to hit the gym or go for a walk.
Any ex-smoker will tell you how hard it is to quit. Those who have managed to stop smoking will likely agree that it took more than one try before they were able to quit smoking for good. However, it's important that you don't give up. Your life might depend on it.

About the Author

Smoking is an addiction that is hard to overcome, as any smoker will tell you. Some smokers try for years to quit and are still unsuccessful. Learn more about the techniques that will make you a success at Stop Smoking for Good.

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