
Alternative Ways to Quit Smoking
Statistics show that one out of 3 men and women over the age of 18-years old are smokers. Smoking cigarettes and pipe tobacco is responsible for approximately 435,000 American deaths each year. Smoking is a significant cause of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, as well as cancers (specifically lung cancer). Well, you might not realize it, you are more likely to develop chronic asthma (or COPD) if you are a smoker.
Unfortunately, smoking is a deadly and addictive habit to kick. However, with the right tools, you can kick off the habit for good:
1. Hypnotize your habit
Hypnosis is touted as an effective way to quit smoking. Using this technique, individuals become more susceptible to suggestions that weaken cravings for cigarettes. The smokers are taught to relax and enter into a receptive state to abstain from smoking. It is advised participants to participate in self-hypnosis technique at least once or twice a day.
2. Image inspiration
The use of guided imagery and meditation sounds cliché to many cigarette addicts. However, creating mental pictures helps in tapping the unconscious mind. This facilitates the reprogramming of the nervous system to resist smoking temptations. It clears internal conflicts that can block the path to quitting smoking. Besides, it supports the smoker to recognize he or she doesn’t need a cigarette to feel relaxed.
3. Nicotine vaccination
Nicotine vaccination NicVAX stimulates the immune system to block nicotine molecules from reaching the brain. This interferes with the addictive process through nicotine that happens in the serum.
4. Acupuncture
It is an alternative technique to curb smoking menace. It has turned the majority of smokers into ex-smokers. Typically, its needles are usually inserted into various body points to assist in smoking cessation. If you are ready to quit smoking, consult an acupuncture provider near you and begin a healthy if not a smoke-free life!
5. Using nicotine gum
It helps smokers in reducing the amount of nicotine they smoke daily. It reduces withdrawal symptoms hindering the addict from attempting to give up in smoking. Nevertheless, one should not eat or drink 15 minutes prior to chewing the gum as it reduces nicotine absorption.
6. Nicotine patch
Nicotine replacement therapies have been the most reputed approach for minimizing dependence on nicotine. It’s one of the most renowned and utilized nicotine therapies today. Mostly it provides a steady and controlled dose of nicotine consumption throughout the day. Nicotine patch gradually allows the users to wean themselves off from nicotine. However, as a user, you ought to be careful since there is a potentiality for overdose. A combination of counseling and medication is more effective than either alone.
7. Use smoking cessation programs
Quitting smoking while alone is a hard nut to crash. However, with supporting smoking cessation programs, it’s a cakewalk. They combine numerous approaches to help you decide the best-quitting strategy to use. Their plans are managed by well-versed professionals to assist smokers with the challenges they face as they strive to stop smoking.
While all of these solutions will help you quit smoking, remember that they are not a miracle worker. The key to smoking cessation success lies within you. Your determination and willpower will help you win this race just.