How can I quit smoking?

You can quit smoking

The answer to the question of how can I quit smoking is that the most important thing is to make up your mind to quit smoking. Your body cannot continue a habit that your brain has completely rejected.

Smoking continued to exist as an indispensable part of life for a large portion of people from the beginning of the 1900s. As a result of tobacco, first produced in America, being marketed through many aggressively and cunningly prepared advertisements, smoking became one of the world’s leading health problems. However, after it was understood that it was the main cause of many types of cancer, particularly lung cancer, the main cause of many types of cancer smoking rates began to decline from the 1990s onward, although far from satisfactorily. Various methods have been offered, and continue to be offered, to smokers to end smoking addiction, whose harms have been explained through various campaigns.

Lung cancer a disease that was once very rare Did you know that it was?

What diseases does smoking cause?

Giving up this habit should not cause you suffering. Although you may experience some side effects, you can quit smoking more easily with the various options available to you. Know that the benefits you will gain by quitting smoking are far more important than the risk of side effects that arise when you use the methods offered to you.

Since smoking has been opposed in almost every country in the world, let us examine together what we can do to completely remove smoking from our lives and lead a healthier and longer life..

Nicotine-containing treatments

Various nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, inhalers, lozenges, and nasal sprays, have been approved by the Ministry of Health. Nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and lozenges can be obtained from pharmacies without a prescription. However, some products, such as nasal sprays and inhalers (respiratory devices), can be purchased with a doctor’s prescription.

Drug treatments

Two drug treatments may help with quitting smoking. One is bupropion (Wellbutrin—a brand-name antidepressant available on the market and Zyban as an aid to quitting smoking), and the other is the drug called varenicline (Champix). Bupropion can be used together with nicotine replacement therapy. However, the same does not apply to varenicline. This rule applies except in some exceptional circumstances. Both varenicline and bupropion are effective drug treatments for quitting smoking.

Psychiatric side effects are seen, although rarely, with the use of varenicline (Champix). However, this drug is a highly effective and good medication that helps with quitting smoking. Therefore, its positive and negative outcomes should be carefully weighed, and it should be used to the extent permitted by your health status.

The most important point is that if you decide on this type of drug treatment, you must obtain a doctor’s approval.

Alternative treatments

Some alternative treatments, such as hypnosis and acupuncture may also help you quit smoking. However, since large-scale studies on hypnosis and acupuncture are not yet available, it has not been established how effective these methods are for quitting smoking. Nevertheless, there is no health-related objection to choosing them as alternative treatments. The only disadvantages of hypnosis and acupuncture treatment are their cost and the time they require.

Social support

The importance of social support is overlooked. However, helplines provided by the government for quitting smoking may benefit people addicted to smoking. By calling this helpline and following the advice and treatments provided, you can double your chances of quitting smoking.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

Although the effect of electronic cigarettes on smoking cessation has not been proven, many consumers who want to quit smoking have started using electronic cigarettes. In fact, as a result of scientific studies showing that e-cigarettes are not effective in helping people quit conventional cigarettes, e-cigarette marketers have now begun to prefer the slogan “less harmful” instead of “helps you quit smoking.” However, it does not seem possible to say that e-cigarettes are less harmful. You can access detailed information about electronic cigarettes from this article .

Perhaps the greatest danger of e-cigarettes marketed with the “claim” that they are less harmful is that they target our young people and children. Scientific data support the view that they particularly create a tendency among young people to start smoking and do not have an effect toward quitting smoking among those who use them. In addition, studies have shown that the earlier a person is introduced to nicotine, the stronger the degree of nicotine dependence . 

- You may be interested in: Which method is more effective for quitting smoking: quitting by CUTTING DOWN or quitting ALL AT ONCE?

Conclusion

It is important to support those who cannot quit smoking on their first attempt rather than discouraging them. Most people addicted to smoking try to quit more than once. My advice is to set a day for yourself and remain determined. Remember that you may initially fail as part of the process of quitting smoking. However, do not give up, and set yourself a limit of, for example, 10 attempts. Be understanding toward yourself throughout the quitting period and never accept defeat.

It has been stated repeatedly how harmful smoking is to human health and that quitting is the only salvation. In this regard, the work carried out and campaigns organized on this issue in our country, as in many countries, are commendable. However, putting all these methods aside, the most important thing is to make up your mind to quit smoking. Your body cannot continue a habit that your brain has completely rejected.

Remember: Quitting smoking, at any age, contributes positively to life expectancy