Smoking Cessation: Information That Can Help

Overview

It may be very challenging to quit smoking, but it is one of the best steps people can take to improve their health. Smoking is very harmful to almost every tissue and organ in the body and is also detrimental to others in the form of second-hand smoke. Quitting offers immediate health benefits that increase over time.

Quitting can be a real challenge, but plenty of people have done it, and evidence-based treatments are available to help, such as taking smoking cessation drugs. It is possible to get medications for smoking cessation today, which can help those who want to quit smoking to achieve success. Chantix, for instance, works by activating specific receptors in the brain that inhibit nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Why do people smoke?

People smoke for a variety of different reasons. Smoking is often associated with psychological factors like work stress or concerns about family or finances. It is also often associated with social activities, like drinking and eating. These psychological and social factors may cause an individual to take up smoking.

Nicotine is very addictive, and individuals then develop a physical dependence on it.

People often smoke to feel more relaxed, but nicotine is actually a stimulant that raises adrenaline levels, blood pressure, and heart rate. Nicotine withdrawal is what makes quitting smoking difficult. This is when certain drugs can reduce the desire to smoke, and a prescription for smoking cessation may be necessary.

Nicotine Withdrawal

Quitting smoking creates intense withdrawal symptoms. Some of these are depression, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, dizziness, sweating, tremors, headaches, nausea, disrupted sleep, and abdominal pains.

These symptoms are often intense for two to three days and then start to subside over the next three to four weeks. Smoking cessation medications can provide those who want to quit with tools to help them deal with withdrawal symptoms and continue without relapsing.

Treatment for Smoking Cessation

Treatment for smoking cessation usually consists of counseling to change behavior and using drugs to help with nicotine withdrawal. Quitting is more likely to be successful when using a combination of counseling and drug therapy.

This combination addresses both the reasons why an individual smokes and the triggers involved, while also helping with the unpleasant symptoms associated with withdrawal.

The National Cancer Institute has a website, smokefree.gov, that offers comprehensive information for quitting smoking. It even makes it possible for individuals to receive personalized behavioral counseling via live chat or text. There are also stop-smoking programs people can join that may increase their chances of success.

Smokers need to find out what triggers the need to smoke, and they can do so by keeping a diary for a while before quitting. Making a plan to control trigger situations is one of the best ways to increase the chance of success.

Behavior Changes

Some of the following strategies are recommended for individuals who want to quit smoking:

• Select a quit date and tell friends and family so they can offer support.
• Throw out all cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays, and avoid situations where people typically smoke.
• Recognize the cues that lead to smoking such as boredom, traffic problems, coffee breaks, or meals.
• Try substituting another behavior for smoking, like sucking on hard candy or doodling.
• Engage in deep breathing and relaxation techniques to deal with the physical effects of quitting.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis, as both may temporarily lower your resolve to quit.

Why Having a Quit Date Helps

Those who quit by trying to smoke fewer cigarettes over time tend to unconsciously inhale more deeply or smoke each cigarette down to the filter, taking in just as much nicotine as before.

Research shows that people who make a clean break are often more successful than those who try to quit gradually. When making a clean break, using nicotine replacement products from the quit date can help a great deal, and it is possible to get a quit smoking prescription for refills when needed.

Using Medicine to Help

Using a nicotine replacement product or another medication approved by the FDA to treat nicotine withdrawal can nearly double the chances of successfully quitting smoking.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy is available in various products, including patches, lozenges, gum, nasal sprays, and inhalers. The gum, lozenges, and patches are available over the counter.

Nicotine replacement products can cause some irritation in the throat and mouth as well as stomach discomfort. Nasal sprays and inhalers are usually only available with a prescription. It is possible to get a plan for smoking cessation after filling in a questionnaire reviewed by a doctor.

Online Prescription for Smoking Cessation

All the nicotine replacement products provide nicotine to the brain but not with the same direct hit as when smoking cigarettes. Therefore, people are not likely to become addicted to nicotine replacement products even though they contain nicotine.

Individuals who want to quit on a specific date can start using the nicotine replacement product on the quit date and continue to purchase the product online by consulting with a doctor.

Nicotine replacement products are usually taken for a lengthy period of time to help prevent relapses, so it can be very convenient to consult with a doctor online for smoking cessation medications. The doctor can help the individual determine which medication to use, explain how to use it, and discuss possible side effects.

Bupropion and Varenicline

Other prescription smoking cessation medicines include bupropion hydrochloride or varenicline, which are usually taken for about eight to twelve weeks.

Bupropion SR, also known as Zyban, is a pill that does not contain nicotine but helps with withdrawal symptoms and resisting the urge to smoke. Chantix, also known as varenicline, can lessen cigarette cravings and make smoking less enjoyable.

As it is often necessary to take these pills for months, it is very convenient to get a quit smoking prescription and pick up the medication from a local pharmacy.

What Happens After Quitting?

After quitting, an individual's sense of smell and taste can improve, a smoker's cough may disappear, and breathing often becomes more comfortable. Over time, the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and cancer decreases.

Relapses May Happen

Most people who quit smoking for six months manage not to take it up again. However, people may relapse within the first three months. Even a single puff on a cigarette can cause relapse, so individuals should not become overconfident. The urge to smoke usually passes in about five minutes.

The leading causes of relapse are overconfidence, stress, and alcohol use in a social setting. Planning for these triggers can increase the chances of success. If a slip occurs, immediately identify what caused it and prepare for how to handle the same situation in the future.

Managing Stress, Weight Gain, and Other Challenges

Manage stress in different ways: There are many ways to manage stress without using nicotine. Physical activity is one excellent way to release tension, overcome the urge to smoke, and relieve withdrawal symptoms. It does not have to be strenuous to be helpful.

Weight gain: With a restored sense of smell and taste, people may gain weight when they stop smoking. Being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding foods high in fat and sugar can help. Dieting aggressively while trying to quit smoking can add stress and make it more difficult.

More tips:

• Use carrot sticks, celery sticks, a straw, or a flavored toothpick if you miss the physical sensation in your mouth.
• Chewing sugarless gum may help with cravings.
• Reward progress by doing something enjoyable.
• Drink plenty of water.

Studies show that those who cannot quit on their first try are often stronger and better prepared for the next time they try.

A Final Word

Quitting smoking is not easy, and it is essential to find ways to change behavior and deal with nicotine withdrawal. A combination of therapy to help make behavioral changes and drugs to help with withdrawal symptoms usually works best.

A prescription for Chantix, along with counseling or joining a support group, can make all the difference between failure and success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)