Smoking Cessation, Tips For Success - 869 Words

Smoking Cessation, Tips for Success If you are ready to quit smoking, congratulations! You have chosen to help yourself be healthier. Cigarettes bring nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and other irritants into your body. Your lungs, heart, and blood vessels will be able to work better without these poisons. There are many different ways to quit smoking. Nicotine gum, nicotine patches, a nicotine inhaler, or nicotine nasal spray can help with physical craving. Hypnosis, support groups, and medicines help break the habit of smoking. WHAT THINGS CAN I DO TO MAKE QUITTING EASIER? Here are some tips to help you quit for good: †¢ Pick a date when you will quit smoking completely. Tell all of your friends and family about your plan to quit on†¦show more content†¦Remind yourself of your decision to quit. †¢ Change habits associated with smoking. If you smoked while driving or when feeling stressed, try other activities to replace smoking. Stand up when drinking your coffee. Brush your teeth after eating. Sit in a different chair when you read the paper. Avoid alcohol while trying to quit, and try to drink fewer caffeinated beverages. Alcohol and caffeine may urge you to smoke. †¢ Avoid foods and drinks that can trigger a desire to smoke, such as sugary or spicy foods and alcohol. †¢ Ask people who smoke not to smoke around you. †¢ Have something planned to do right after eating or having a cup of coffee. For example, plan to take a walk or exercise. †¢ Try a relaxation exercise to calm you down and decrease your stress. Remember, you may be tense and nervous for the first 2 weeks after you quit, but this will pass. †¢ Find new activities to keep your hands busy. Play with a pen, coin, or rubber band. Doodle or draw things on paper. †¢ Brush your teeth right after eating. This will help cut down on the craving for the taste of tobacco after meals. You can also try mouthwash. †¢ Use oral substitutes in place of cigarettes. Try using lemon drops, carrots, cinnamon sticks, or chewing gum. Keep them handy so they are available when you have the urge to smoke. †¢ When you have the urge to smoke, try deep breathing. †¢ Designate your home as a nonsmoking area. †¢ If you are a heavy smoker,