Why’s and how’s of quit smoking

Even though they may claim to enjoy smoking deeply and passionately, most smokers nurture a strong desire in their heart to quit smoking permanently. The looming fear of developing a smoking related disease is a constant source of stress; besides, smoking makes them live under the guilt of harming their near and dear ones through passive smoking. This article discusses many more reasons why you should quit smoking, what are the benefits of smoking cessation and some of the most popular smoking cessation treatment options available today.

Why should you quit smoking?

There are many, many answers to this question. We have listed below some of the strongest reasons that compel people to quit smoking :

• To improve life expectancy - this gives you the opportunity to spend a lot more time with your family and friends
• To avoid becoming a victim to smoking related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis; this will help you enjoy a better quality of life
• To reduce the risk to your unborn child if pregnant
• To protect your loved ones from the harmful effects of passive smoking; giving them a healthy environment
• To save money; calculate the amount spent on cigarettes over the years and how you could have utilised that otherwise

Benefits of smoking cessation

There are countless benefits of quit smoking and it is difficult to write them all down. Only the most prominent benefits of smoking cessation have been listed below :

• To live longer and enjoy an improved quality of life
• To regain love and respect of your loved ones
• To save time spent on smoking for other effective uses
• To live healthier through prevention of smoking related diseases
• To smell better, have clean unstained teeth
• To be able to relish the taste of food
• To have a healthier skin
• To enjoy a better sex life; smoking cessation is known to improve fertility and reduce your risk of developing erectile dysfunction
• To give birth to a healthy baby
• To indulge yourself with the money that you would have otherwise spent on smoking

Smoking cessation treatments

Some people may have a strong determination to be able to quit smoking via cold turkey method (by means of will power alone) others may require treatment to help them quit smoking. Some men and women may require expert counselling to strengthen their motivation to quit and keep them motivated until they are able to quit successfully.

Many smokers take advantage of nicotine replacement therapy (NRTs) to help them quit. This therapy aims at relieving a person from nicotine withdrawal symptoms by providing nicotine externally through nicotine chewing gum, nicotine patches, nicotine tabs, lozenges, nicotine nasal spray and inhalators. This protects a person from other harmful toxins contained in cigarette smoke. However, since NRTs provide nicotine, a certain risk of re-addiction is involved in this therapy.

Currently, the most advanced and the most preferred method of smoking cessation is the use of nicotine-free quit smoking medications - Zyban (bupropion) and Champix Varenicline. These medications have been approved by the FDA as effective smoking cessation treatments. Champix is preferred over Zyban as it not only provides relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms but also reduces the pleasure derived from smoking. Success rates are much higher with Champix as compared to that of Zyban.