Most Popular Methods To Quit Smoking

If you're a smoker, you've probably been feeling the pressure to quit smoking, now more than ever. Whether it's spiraling tobacco prices, difficulty breathing (or other smoking related health problems), or the pleas of your loved ones, there are always at least 5 good reasons to quit smoking.

Fortunately, for every good reason to quit, there's also a stop smoking method that has worked for many hardened smokers. Here you'll find some helpful advice from a former two and a half pack a day smoker along with the top 5 methods to quit smoking that have helped millions of people break their addiction to nicotine.

Despite the millions of dollars in research and technology that goes into developing new stop smoking aids every year, quitting cold turkey is still the number one way to quit. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 91% of former smokers used this tried and true method to give up cigarettes.

This method is all about willpower. If you don't completely trust your willpower, you may be able to give it a boost by telling all of your friends and family that you're giving up cigarettes. For a lot of people, the support of loved ones is all it takes to help them through the tough spots; and if that doesn't do it, the thought of going back to everyone you told and admitting defeat often does.

A lot of people find stop smoking success through hypnosis, but you should do a little research first. As with any other type of service, there are plenty of scams and wild claims to avoid. Many stop smoking hypnosis practitioners claim they can cure your addiction in a single session, but dyed-in-the-wool smokers should expect to undergo several sessions to become smoke free.

Acupuncture has been gaining more respect in the medical community in recent years. This 5000 year old practice has been successfully used to control pain, help with weight loss, and control cravings and withdrawal symptoms for people who are trying to quit smoking.

Whether you use nicotine gum or the patch, nicotine replacement therapy can help you break the physical habit of smoking which, for some people, is the hardest part of quitting.

You might also try an electronic cigarette. While these don't break the physical habit, they do eliminate a few of the health risks by replacing smoke with nicotine infused water vapor.There is a reason, however, that they cannot be legally advertised as "healthy cigarettes". Electronic cigarettes don't have quite as many chemicals as the real thing, but they still carry plenty of health risks. Despite what manufacturers may want you to believe, there is still no such thing as a safe cigarette. E-cigs are not usually marketed as a stop smoking aid, but some people find success by using replacement cartridges with progressively lower levels of nicotine before quitting completely.

Wellbutrin, originally used as an anti-depressant, and Chantix, are the most popular stop smoking pills on the market. They are used to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in the early stages of your smoking cessation.

Both of these stop smoking medications require a doctor's prescription and, if you don't have insurance coverage, they can be costly.

As with most drugs, stop smoking pills carry a small risk of side effects. 30% of people using Chantix experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, and sleep problems, and Wellbutrin has been associated with seizures in some people.

Smoking affects every organ in your body. Quitting smoking now reduces your chances of cancer, heart attacks, and many other health problems; and may even help in controlling high cholesterol and diabetes. Smoking also restricts blood vessels, so it's especially deadly if you already have heart disease or diabetes.

A lot of smokers use potential weight gain as an excuse to avoid quitting, but that is a myth. You might gain a little weight while you're trying to quit, but the truth is that you would have to gain in excess of 75 pounds to equal the health risks involved in smoking one pack of cigarettes a day. The effects of weight gain can also be reversed a lot more easily than the risks involved in smoking.

Weight gain is not some magical side effect of quitting smoking. Many people feel the need to put something in their mouth in place of a cigarette, and food is a natural substitution. As in any other situation, you can keep weight gain to a minimum by following a healthy diet that includes fresh produce, plenty of fiber, and a little exercise.

When deciding on a method to quit smoking, keep in mind that the highest success rate is among those who quit cold turkey. On average, 10% of cold turkey quitters are still enjoying the non-smoking lifestyle after 6 months. Yes, those are low odds, but don't let that stop you. The fact is that there are more ex-smokers in the US than smokers, so while quitting is difficult, it's not impossible; and there are a few things you can do to increase your chances for success.

Keep a fresh taste in your mouth. Chewing minty gum or using breath mints may cause you to think twice about spoiling your fresh breath by smoking. It will also keep your mouth occupied with something other than a cigarette. Do not use it as a crutch, though. If you rely too heavily on any one thing to get you through the cravings, you could be in danger of a smoking relapse when you give it up!

You may also be able to minimize your suffering by increasing your water intake. Drinking plenty of fluids can help to flush those toxins out of your body just a little bit more quickly.

In addition to water, natural juices with high acid content, like orange or cranberry juice, can help speed up the process of ridding your system of nicotine. Just don't overdo it. Fruit juices tend to be very high in calories. A couple of glasses a day for two or three days should work wonders.

Quitting smoking is definitely not something you should try on impulse. By picking a date in the near future, you can take some time to prepare yourself for the challenge. Once that date arrives, there is no acceptable excuse to take even one more puff.

If you're a heavy smoker or you've been smoking for a very long time, you can increase your chance for success by cutting down for a few weeks before giving up your cigarettes completely.

If you still have tobacco in the house on your quit date, get rid of it. It's far too early for such temptations. Many smokers tell themselves that it's a waste of money to throw away their expensive cigarettes, so they'll just quit when they run out. The problem with that is they never seem to run out. One justification to smoke typically leads to another and they've failed before they even began.

In the long run, the cost of continuing to smoke, both financially and health-wise, far outweigh the price of those last few packs of cigarettes; so pick your date and stick to it!

For many smokers, alcohol is the single largest smoking trigger. If you enjoy an occasional drink, you don't have to quit altogether, but you should avoid it for at least the first two or three weeks while you're quitting.

Alcohol also lowers your inhibitions, so going out to a pub and surrounding yourself with smokers is a surefire way to derail your efforts. If you must drink, try drinking at home for a couple of weeks.

You must realize there is a difference between thinking about smoking and wanting a cigarette. Thinking about smoking is not the same thing as a craving, but it can certainly trigger one. Staying busy can help keep those smoker's thoughts to a minimum while you're learning how to stay smoke free. Try reading a book, learning a new skill, or spending time in places where smoking is not allowed.

How long can you go without a smoke? Those nicotine fits seem to last for hours, don't they? The truth of the matter is that a typical craving lasts for less than three minutes. You can last three minutes, right? Anything beyond that three minute window is your mental fixation on smoking. Focus your mind elsewhere and stay strong. That may be easier said than done, but if you're genuinely committed to your goal, it's more than doable.

In time, and probably less time than you think, those cravings will become fewer and fewer. In the beginning you'll probably experience three of four craves a day, and that will likely peak at about six cravings around day three. It's all downhill after that.

At the one week point, you'll probably be back below four urges per day, and once you make it to the two week point, you should be experiencing less than two actual cravings per day. Remember, the cravings last less than three minutes each, so two cravings is a total of six minutes of real effort every 24 hours.

After two weeks, most people begin to experience entire days without feeling a real need to smoke, but that doesn't mean they're home free. Occasional strong urges may still strike, so stay on your guard.

Outlasting your cravings for even a week is a significant victory, so feel free to reward yourself! Just be careful of how you celebrate. If you're engaging in a trigger activity, you may very well be caught off guard by a new and potent craving.

Whatever you do, never reward yourself with a cigarette, or even a single puff! Nicotine is a powerfully addictive substance. At this point, even one puff will likely trigger a relapse and you will find yourself right back at square one, withdrawal symptoms and all. Too many people fail at this critical time, so don't fall into this trap.

Many people find it easier to quit smoking with a friend. If you don't have a friend who is ready to give up cigarettes, there's still no reason to go it alone. With a simple search of the web, you can easily find quit smoking support groups that you can attend in person or online. These are especially helpful if your friends and family have never been smokers. While they may feel for you, they have no way of knowing exactly what you're going through. You'll find plenty of support from others trying to quit in a smoking cessation support group or internet forum.

Whichever method you choose, bear in mind that giving up cigarettes will probably be the most difficult thing you have ever done. It will also be the healthiest choice you have ever made. In case you should feel your willpower flagging at any time, here are a few of the health benefits to think about as you fight what may be the most important battle of your life.

Just 20 minutes after you've smoked your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal. Within eight hours of quitting, the oxygen and carbon monoxide levels in your blood also return to normal.

After being smoke free for 24 hours, your risk of heart attack begins to decrease, and at the 48 hour mark you'll notice that your sense of smell and taste are beginning to improve.

During the first three months your circulation and lung function will both improve, making walking and other physical activities much easier. Over the course of the first nine months, you should also notice less and less coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue, and you'll experience an overall boost in your energy level.

That should get you through the toughest part of your quit smoking program, but in case you're wondering what else you can look forward to, here are a few of the long-term benefits you'll enjoy as a non-smoker:

1 Year- Risk of heart disease is cut in half

5 Years- Risk of stroke is similar to that of someone who never smoked

10 Years- Risk of death from lung cancer is similar to that of someone who never smoked

15 Years- Risk of heart disease is the same as that of a person who never smoked

As you can see, the list of benefits involved in quitting will continue to grow for years to come. Best of luck in achieving your goals and becoming smoke free for life. Just remember that this is a lifelong change that requires total commitment. Take your challenge one crave at time and you'll do just fine.