What Are The Best Ways To Quit Smoking?

There are several different methods that smokers have tried in the endeavor to stop the habit. However, there may be no best ways to quit smoking since we all respond differently to any given technique. What works well for one smoker might not be right for another. There are three main techniques that people use to give up smoking and the best is always the one that works most effectively for any given individual.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Some would argue that the best ways to quit smoking involve nicotine replacement therapy. The idea is to provide the person who is quitting with enough nicotine to reduce the physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting. However the nicotine is provided through gum or a patch that is applied to the skin. Therefore the individual using NRT does not breathe in smoke or any of the tars and carcinogens it contains. The amount of nicotine is gradually reduced until the person does not need it any more.

Other people might tell you that the best ways to quit smoking do not include nicotine replacement therapy because it still provides the chemical that the smoker craves for. Therefore when the nicotine replacement therapy stops the former smoker will want to smoke again. In other words NRT may simply prolong the period of withdrawal.

Pharmaceuticals And Counseling

If you talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit smoking and ask for help he or she may prescribe a medication to help eliminate the craving and suggest that you use this in conjunction with counseling. For instance a medication called Chantix is often prescribed to help people quit smoking. This medication works by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain so that the smoker does not get any pleasure from the act of smoking. When this medication is used in conjunction with counseling it has quite a good success rate.

Cold Turkey

Perhaps natural ways to quit smoking are better than NRT or prescription medication. In fact the vast majority of people who want to quit attempt do so through the cold turkey technique. This method involves establishing a date when you will quit and sticking to it. Instead of using patches or medication the person who is quitting uses distractions and takes away all things that remind him of smoking. When they get stressed they use relaxation techniques instead of reaching for a cigarette packet. Many doctors think that going cold turkey is not one of the best ways to quit smoking since it entails dealing with withdrawal symptoms such as tetchiness headaches and anxiety.