(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Cigarette smoking accounts for 480,000 deaths per year. It’s the number one cause of preventable death.
This might not come as a surprise to many. Data showing the danger of cigarette smoking has prompted increased visibility of diseases and adverse side effects that come with the habit.
What may come as a surprise, though, is that seventy percent of smokers do really want to quit.
If you are or know someone who is apart of the seventy percent, these five tips to stop smoking are for you.
Five Tips To Stop Smoking
Quitting cigarettes can be really, really hard. Setting yourself up for success using quit-smoking tools can make all the difference.
1. Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine is the most addictive component of cigarettes.
When you quit cigarettes cold turkey, the nicotine withdrawals are usually what cause you to relapse. If you opt to use non-tobacco nicotine replacement therapy, you might increase your chances of quitting.
Nicotine replacement therapy is found in patches, gums, sprays, lozenges, and e-vapes. E-vapes, like SMOK Novo, provide nicotine and mimic cigarette smoking without all the cancer-causing chemicals.
2. Ask Your Doctor About Medications
Withdrawal symptoms can be debilitating, especially when you’ve been smoking cigarettes for a long time.
When you’re quitting, talk to your doctor. They may be able to prescribe medications that ease the withdrawal process.
3. Try Hemp
In one study, cannabidiol (CBD) helped reduce the number of cigarettes smoked by 40%. With its low side effect profile and numerous benefits, CBD might just be a lifesaver for those trying to quit.
CBD is the non-psychoactive compound found in hemp. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and pain relieving properties. It can be found in tincture, gel capsule, edible, and vape oil form.
4. Be Patient With Yourself
Quitting isn’t easy. Being addicted to cigarettes might even be linked to a certain gene. For some, it means quitting might literally be fighting your genetic code.
On top of that, our brain is hardwired into patterns. When it’s used to doing the same thing every day, change can feel unsteady. It triggers the survival part of our brain that tells us what we’re doing is unsafe. It just won’t feel right.
So, be patient with yourself. Give yourself room to fail. Tightening the reigns harder only makes your chances of relapsing greater.
Instead of beating yourself up if you mess up, take a deep breath, do some meditation, go for a walk, or attend a yoga class.
5. Switch Up Your Routine
If you are used to smoking as a part of your daily routine, there may be repetitive sensory experiences that your brain associates with smoking.
By changing your routine, you avoid these sensory triggers that might cause a need for a smoke session.
You Can Win the War In Your Own Mind
Using proven tips to stop smoking is the key to success. With effective therapies and good old willpower, you can make it through.
For the latest information on smoking and addiction, check out this article on Health News Digest.