Finding Ways To Quit Smoking For Good
Through out a smoker's lifetime they will attempt to quit smoking several times before they are finally successful. This leads to the questions of how to quit smoking for good, and this is really an individual question that needs to be posed.
For some, finding a way to quit smoking for good involves intellectually learning how bad smoking is for them. Everyone is aware that lung cancer is caused by smoking but for some it is the knowledge of the increase in heart attack risk, stroke risk and the chances of developing emphysema that makes them realize it is time to find a way to quit smoking for good.
For others, it is finding a way to quit smoking for good that is easy, and there is no simple path to quitting smoking, but there are options that can make the road somewhat easier.
How To Quit Smoking for Good
For some, it is quickest and easiest to just stop smoking cold turkey. No matter how a person attempts to stop smoking they will find that they have side effects such as irritability, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain and feelings of anxiety. By just stopping, these side effects may rapidly appear, but the good news is that they only last for several weeks.
Others use the method of nicotine patches or nicotine gum that allows them to slowly come off of the nicotine that their bodies now crave since they started smoking. This method may take several months to use, and side effects will still occur but many find it is an easier way to quit smoking for good than just stopping.
There is a medication that has been approved to help assist smokers when they are looking to quit smoking for good. The brand name is Zyban and this needs to be prescribed by a physician. The drug was originally used for treating depression and many patients reported the side benefit of decreased desire for cigarettes. Zyban may be able to help with the feelings of depression that are also associated with quitting smoking.
For some patients it may be useful to go to counseling or join a support group that can help them through the stages of withdrawal. By talking with others and getting emotional support many have found a way to stop smoking.
A combination of treatments may be the best for some patients, by using the nicotine patches and attending therapy or combining patches and Zyban. It may take several attempts to find the right path, but to quit smoking for good is the best choice a person can make.
