For long-time smokers, learning how to quit smoking is really though and maybe the hardest thing they will ever do.
According to the American Heart Association News, the reason why smoking is addictive is because of the nicotine content. Smokers don’t realize it, but nicotine is harder to quit than heroin.
There are nearly 1 billion smokers globally, and an estimated 34.2 million adults in the United States currently smoke cigarettes or tobacco. This number is alarming. Despite the health implications of smoking, millions of people still don’t quit.
In fact, smoking kills up to half of the smokers. Tobacco kills more than 8 million people a year, in which 7 million are smokers or direct tobacco users, while 1.2 million are the result of second-hand smoking or those people being exposed to smokers.
Why you should quit smoking
Smoking does not have a single benefit and no safe amount of cigarettes or tobacco to smoke. Every time you light a cigarette, harmful chemicals reach your lungs instantly, and your blood carries the toxins to every organ in your body. There are hundreds of reasons why you should quit right now. Here are just a few of the reasons or causes of smoking.
- Lung cancer
- Heart disease
- Liver cancer
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Erectile dysfunction
- Tuberculosis
- Colorectal cancer
- Stroke
- Cervical cancer
- Decrease life expectancy
- Psoriasis
How to quit smoking
About 80 to 90 percent of smokers get used to having nicotine in their system. When they quit smoking, their body needs to get used to not having nicotine in their bodies. That’s when withdrawal happens.
The common symptoms of withdrawal are becoming irritable, mood changes, persistent cough, having a hard time sleeping, and concentrating.
It is never too late to quit smoking. You can do different things to redirect your attention and get through the first stage of withdrawal. You can do house chores, exercise, or take up a new hobby.
When you are craving to smoke, it is always a good idea to have something quick and easy to do at the moment. If you want to know how to quit smoking, you can do these hobbies ex-smokers have used and found very effective.
You can replace the habit of grabbing tobacco or cigarettes with these:
1. Chewing some gum
Studies show that chewing a piece of gum can reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of a nicotine-dependent person who is not permitted to smoke. There are also nicotine gums available in the market to help people stop smoking.
This is a class of medication called smoking cessation aids. It works by providing nicotine in the body to reduce withdrawal symptoms to stop the cravings. A doctor’s prescription is not needed for nicotine gums.
2. Brush and floss your teeth
Heavy smokers usually skip brushing their teeth because of their smoking habits. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice or thrice a day, or after meals, can help fight the urge of smoking as you have already brushed your teeth.
Smoking has a huge impact on your oral health. It stains your teeth and tongue and also interferes with your sense of taste and smell.
3. Get rid of the smoking reminder
Throw away your ashtrays, matches or lighters, and cigarettes because all of these remind you and trigger you to smoke. Replace these cravings with healthy oral substitutes.
4. Avoid drinks that you associate with smoking
For at least a couple of months, avoid drinking alcohol, coffee, or any drinks that you link with smoking. Replace these drinks with water and fresh fruit juices. Fresh fruit juices have alkalizing properties that help lessen nicotine cravings.
5. Eat tart or sour food
There are certain foods that can help you manage your urge to smoke, and tart or sour foods are some of those. Tart-flavored foods include lime, lemon, and dill pickles.
6. Start an exercise program
Engaging in physical activities such as exercising is a great way to distract you from smoking until the craving passes. It helps you deal with the physical and psychological aspects of nicotine addiction. There is also some research revealing that exercise can reduce the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
7. Count the money you are saving from not smoking
Smoking is a bad investment financially and to your health. Every smoker knows that smoking is expressive. So just imagine how much money you will save if you stop smoking. According to an article published on the Nicorette website, an average smoker spends around $20 a day on cigarettes, which is $600 a month.
Quitting smoking is like having a pay raise, and with that savings, you can go on a holiday, pay debts, and even buy yourself the things that you want.
8. Get a new hobby to keep your mind and hands busy
A new hobby is a perfect mental distraction and a perfect way to get your hands busy, instead of holding a cigarette. There are a lot of options available, and your chosen hobby can also be for the short-term—as long as it is within your interest, and you will get distracted from smoking.
Discover a new hobby and be good at it by taking online courses in Skill Success. You can choose from thousands of online video courses from painting environments, to creating woodworks for your garden.
Another online course that you can take to help you quit smoking is How To Quit Smoking With Hypnosis And Self-Hypnosis. This online course promises to make a person a non-smoker in just two weeks! You can stop smoking without experiencing withdrawals or cravings.
9. Yoga
Yoga is a powerful practice that you can do to help you end the bad habit of smoking. Smokers entwine their emotions with smoking; they find calmness as they puff a cigarette. Studies also proved that yoga practice could reduce perceived stress and lead to sustained smoking cessation (quitting smoking).
Instead of grabbing another stick of cigarette when feeling stressed, why not opt for doing yoga to clear your emotional baggage and open the air pathways by encouraging fuller, deeper breaths.
10. Meditation
Meditation is another practice that can help smokers quit. It is an effective way of enhancing self-control toward quitting smoking. Meditating can help you feel better and helps you manage your stress.
The less stress you have, the less reason you have for reaching for another pack of cigarettes. Meditation also promotes self-control. As your self-control increases, you develop the willpower to kick this bad habit naturally.
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