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Why Should Cigarette Smokers Think About Quitting?
What Are Some Tips For Smokers Who Decide To Quit?
What About Smokers Who Quit Time And Time Again?
What About Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
Can Nicotine Chewing Gum Help?
How Much Nicotine Gum Do Quitters Chew?
Are Those Nicotine Replacement Products Just As Bad As Smoking Cigarettes?
Are There Other Nicotine Replacement Products?
What's a Good Way to Help a Cigarette Smoker Quit?
What Do Former Smokers Say About The Benefits Of Quitting?
WHY SHOULD CIGARETTE SMOKERS THINK ABOUT QUITTING?
One in five smokers dies early because of his or her smoking. Smokers die of heart disease, stroke, cancer and emphysema. At one time smoking seemed "cool," but it has become less and less desirable.
What's more, research shows that secondhand smoke, the smoke from other people's cigarettes, can harm the health of nonsmokers. Breathing in another person's smoke can cause many breathing problems in children and cancer and heart disease in adults.
The trend now is for public places and work places to go smoke free. This should help smokers make the move to quit and keep everyone's lungs healthier.
Cigarettes are so much a part of the American scene that many people think of them as "normal." They are easy to buy and inexpensive compared to other drugs.
But cigarettes aren't normal. They are very addictive and cause sickness and death. Their use is restricted in many places and it is illegal for minors to buy them in most parts of the U.S.
WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR SMOKERS WHO DECIDE TO QUIT?
Join a stop-smoking program like Freedom From Smoking® from the American Lung Association(ALA). The Program gives lots of ideas on how to quit and stay quit.
Look into the different kinds of self-help options available to smokers. These include Freedom From Smoking® guidebooks, videotapes and audiotapes. All of these materials are also available from ALA.
Pick a good time to quit. Don't try to quit when you're under a lot of stress or around a holiday.
Be aware that smokers have different experiences when they quit. They may feel sleepy or very excited, lightheaded, nervous or irritable. Or they might crave tobacco or sweets or have headaches.
Be sure to get some exercise every day. For example, walking is a great way to reduce the stress of quitting. Exercise is a big boost toward feeling better, improving spirits, and keeping trim.
Get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water.
Ask family, friends and co-workers to help. Having someone to take a walk with or just listen can give a needed boost.
WHAT ABOUT SMOKERS WHO QUIT TIME AND TIME AGAIN?
Most smokers need to "practice" quitting several times before they make it for good. The best advice is to keep trying! Practice helps smokers plan what to do the next time they get an urge to smoke.
Quitting smoking may seem almost impossible, but it can be done. Don't give up! More than 46 million Americans have quit. Many of them tried several times before they were able to quit. They made it and quit for good. Other smokers can, too.
WHAT ABOUT NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY? DOES IT HELP?
Quitting smoking is a two-step process that includes:
1) overcoming the physical addiction to nicotine, and
2) breaking the smoking habit
Nicotine replacement therapy helps take care of the nicotine addiction so that the smoker can work on breaking the habit. Research has shown that smokers who use some form of nicotine replacement therapy and participate in a behavior change program like Freedom From Smoking® can double their chances of quitting for good.
These products work best for people who are addicted to nicotine and are really trying to quit. Smokers can now obtain these nicotine replacement products both with a doctor's prescription and over the counter. These products are designed to reduce cravings for cigarettes and relieve the withdrawal symptoms people experience while trying to quit smoking.
CAN NICOTINE CHEWING GUM HELP?
Nicotine chewing gum releases small amounts of nicotine into the body. This cuts down on withdrawal symptoms and makes it easier to break the smoking addiction. Nicotine gum is available over the counter and the recommended treatment period is 12 weeks.
HOW MUCH NICOTINE GUM DO QUITTERS CHEW?
Usually 10 to 15 pieces of gum a day. Package instructions explain how the gum is to be chewed. Drinks such as coffee or soda should be avoided before, during and after use of the gum.
The nicotine patch helps relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms by providing a steady dosage of nicotine throughout the day. It reduces the craving or urge to smoke because it replaces the nicotine the smoker was used to getting from cigarettes.
Each day, a new patch is applied to the upper body. One patch is removed at night, lowering the level of nicotine in the bloodstream to give the body a rest; other brands are worn at night as well. These nicotine patches, such as Nicotrol®, are now available over the counter and work best when used along with a behavior change program like Freedom From Smoking® from the American Lung Association. Patches are available in either 6-week or 10-week treatment periods.
ARE THESE NICOTINE REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS JUST AS BAD AS SMOKING CIGARETTES?
No, they do not have all the tars and poisonous gases that are found in cigarettes. Furthermore, they provide less nicotine than a smoker gets from cigarettes.
These products should not be used by pregnant or nursing women. People with other medical conditions should check with their doctor before using any nicotine replacement product.
Most important is that smokers quit completely before starting to use these products. They should not smoke any cigarettes while using the patch.
ARE THERE OTHER NICOTINE REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS?
Yes. There is a Nicotrol® inhaler and nasal spray that are available by prescription. A doctor should be contacted to discuss the use of these products and whether they are right for you.
WHAT'S A GOOD WAY TO HELP A CIGARETTE SMOKER QUIT?
The first move has to come from the smoker. People who really want to quit smoking stand a better chance of sticking to their decision. Letting a person know you care and that you are "there for them" can be a big help.
Ask a smoker, "How can I help?" If the person can't come up with ideas right away, wait until you get some clues. Most smokers would like to be free of cigarettes.
WHAT DO FORMER SMOKERS SAY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF QUITTING?
People who quit smoking are proud of themselves for breaking the addiction. By quitting, smokers get many health benefits. They cut down on their risk of having lung disease, a heart attack or getting cancer.
Former smokers are glad to be rid of cigarette stains on their fingers, hacking coughs and the smell of stale cigarette smoke on their clothing.
Other pleasing "side effects" of quitting are an improved sense of smell and taste.
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The American Lung Association can help with programs for smokers and for their families and friends. Give your local Lung Association a call today at 1-800-LUNG-USA. Ask about self-help guides, audiotapes, videotapes and group clinics.
Visit the website at www.lungusa.org
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