Smoking Cessation

quit smoking

Quitting could save your life.

Tobacco use can lead to deadly consequences but within merely a few weeks of a smoker’s decision to quit many of the adverse health effects of smoking begin to disappear. Smoking cessation, also known as quitting, is the best decision that a smoker can make in terms of getting past their addiction and making a clean break for nicotine free living. Smokers can quit smoking but the process is difficult and it takes a major commitment on the part of the smoker in order to stay on the right track.

Benefits of Smoking Cessation

Your decision to quit smoking has many health benefits. As soon as you stop administering the more than seven thousands chemicals and toxins that are in cigarettes into the body you will begin to heal. Smoking cessation can dramatically improve your health and quality of life with the health benefits of quitting setting in within just a few weeks of your last smoke.

Smoking cessation has the following benefits:

  • lung cancer risk is reduced
  • risk of other nicotine related cancers are reduced
  • heart disease risk is reduced
  • stroke risk is reduced
  • respiratory risk is reduced and chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath are all reduced substantially
  • reproduction improved or is restored for women who quit

These are just some of the health benefits that you can expect when you make the decision to quit smoking. Smoking cessation is also responsible for your improved quality of life which will come as a result of your increased ability to take part in physical activity, increased focus, improved motor function and improved ability to live life without the use of harmful cigarettes.

Smoking Cessation Methods

There are a number of treatments available for those who decide that it’s time to quit smoking but not all treatments are the right choice for every smoker. Some of the most effective smoking cessation methods or treatments include:

  • information and advice from a doctor about quitting
  • counseling or group help to learn about quitting, learn how to remain focused on quitting and learn how to effectively cope with smoking withdrawals
  • CBT or other behavioral therapies to aid in the smoking cessation process
  • over-the-counter medications including nicotine replacement gum, patches and lozenges
  • doctor prescribed medications to aid in smoking cessation

There are a number of online support groups, helplines and other methods of assistance available for those who want to quit smoking and are willing to make the change. Smoking cessation is all about staying focused on the end goal of completely avoiding the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products and getting past the physical or psychological elements of nicotine dependence. The methods by which you attempt to quit smoking will depend on your own individual needs. For most people, smoking cessation is most effective when a combination of methods for quitting are used such as group support, counseling and nicotine replacement medications or gums.