4 Tips for Quitting Smoking—Current Approaches

Have you made a new decision about your life? It may be to quit smoking. You are not alone! Approximately %70 of smokers say they want to quit. Many products can help, and studies show that using a smoking cessation medicine/method doubles the chance of success. Every step toward quitting matters.

4 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

1. Know Your Reasons for Quitting

For some, the reason is health. For others, it may be better smell or taste, lifestyle or financial reasons. Whatever motivates you, clarify it when you decide to quit. Consider making a list so you can read it whenever you want to smoke.

If health is your priority, remember that smoking remains a leading preventable cause of disease-related death, causing millions of deaths worldwide annually. Quitting reduces not only your risk of various cancers, including lung cancer , but also heart disease, stroke, emphysema, COPD and other serious illnesses. It also reduces risks in passive and thirdhand smokers for heart disease and lung cancer. Whatever the amount or duration you have smoked, know that quitting will benefit you in every way.

- You may be interested: A Once Very Rare Disease: Lung Cancer!

2. Be Kind to Yourself

Quitting can be difficult, particularly because of nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco. Tobacco users are physically dependent on nicotine. When trying to quit, they may experience problems such as lack of motivation, sleep difficulties and anxiety. These withdrawal symptoms can make quitting difficult, but dependence disappears over time as the body remains nicotine-free.

You may need several attempts. Know that you can do it, and do not be too hard on yourself. Studies show repeated attempts are beneficial, make quitting easier and are often necessary for long-term cessation. Remember, every attempt deserves appreciation.

- How Do the Lungs Heal After Quitting Smoking?

3. Approved Smoking Cessation Products May Help

You do not have to quit entirely on your own! Cessation medicines/products double the chance of quitting for good, reduce cravings and withdrawal and also save money. They are usually used briefly, costing much less than continuing to smoke.

The most commonly used cessation medicines are nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. NRT reduces withdrawal by providing small nicotine doses without the other dangerous chemicals in cigarettes. After quitting, you will use products containing progressively less nicotine, allowing your body to adjust gradually to nicotine-free living.

Main NRT types include nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalation sprays and nasal sprays. Patches, gum and lozenges are available from pharmacies.

If pregnant or planning pregnancy, consult your doctor before using NRT.

If you cannot use NRT or it is ineffective, other cessation medicines are available. They also reduce cravings and withdrawal, are prescription-only, and require consultation with a doctor to plan treatment.

A medicine that can be called "best" for quitting smoking does not exist ; remember this.

Cessation medicines should be used under medical supervision. Inform your doctor before starting if any of the following applies.

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding
• You have a serious health problem
• You currently take another medicine regularly
• You are under 18

Medicines cannot solve everything. They may help cravings and withdrawal but cannot eliminate the desire to smoke completely. Quitting may sometimes remain difficult even with medication. Combining medicines with other strategies increases your chances.

The figure belowshows how the body heals over time after quitting.

4. Use Free Resources

If you have tried unsuccessfully to quit, you can use the free service in our country, the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health Alo 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Line. More than 42 thousand people have joined the support program so far. Why not be one of them?! You can also book Smoking Cessation Clinic appointments through the Alo 171 website.

Do Electronic Cigarettes Help People Quit?

The effectiveness of electronic cigarettes in smoking cessation is unproven , yet many consumers wanting to quit have begun using them. Following studies showing they are ineffective in stopping conventional cigarette smoking, marketers now prefer the slogan "less harmful" to "helps you quit." However, it also appears impossible to say that electronic cigarettes are less harmful.

- All Scientific Studies on Electronic Cigarettes

Perhaps the greatest danger of e-cigarettes marketed as "less harmful" is their targeting of young people and children. Scientific data suggest that they encourage young people to start smoking and do not help smokers quit. Studies also show that earlier nicotine exposure leads to stronger dependence.

Conclusion

The health benefits of quitting are visible almost everywhere nationwide, in cities, media and social media. Other resources reminding you that you can quit again, including in shopping centers, can motivate you. You can also monitor smoking by identifying triggers such as coffee. Mobile applications designed for this can help you learn to avoid them.

You can call a cessation line and ask relatives for support in motivating you.

Perhaps try entering this summer smoke-free. Remember, every attempt to quit deserves appreciation.

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