For several million smokers around the world, cigarettes are considered almost as important as oxygen for their survival. They have fallen prey to a deadly addiction. Nicotine is an active ingredient in tobacco and is present in cigarettes in large quantities. In small doses, nicotine acts as a stimulant. However, an overdose of nicotine is lethal.

A large proportion of cigarette smokers suffer from a variety of disorders. From respiratory diseases and skin ailments to heart problems and cancer, the complications are many. To save the body from damage, one must quit smoking at an early stage. Although they say it is never too late, letting go of the habit at a later stage is more difficult. There are several ways to quit smoking. While some methods require professional guidance and counseling, the person may practice others independently.

The “cold turkey” method is practiced by several smokers and is quite popular. This way, a person quits smoking abruptly, by entirely giving up smoking. There is no tapering off.

Nicotine replacement therapy is another popular method employed by many. When a person is trying to quit, he or she might experience severe withdrawal symptoms because the supply of nicotine to the smoker’s blood has been taken away. In this method, the nicotine delivered through cigarettes is replaced by nicotine delivered through the skin. Nicotine patches, nicotine gum and nicotine nasal sprays are the options available in this therapy. Experts suggest a step tapering method when following this policy, as it eases the withdrawal symptoms gradually.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is probably the best way to go about quitting. This method requires a great amount of self-control and determination to ward off the urge to smoke. Getting rid of external influences that promote smoking, delaying every smoke session, creating an aversive condition by smoking and focusing on the positive rewards are all part of this therapy.

Other methods used to quit smoking are counseling sessions, acupuncture and hypnosis.

These methods, along with a firm resolve will help a person on the path to recovery. It is essential that a smoker feels the need to quit from within himself and is not trying methods to quit smoking due to external pressure. When the smoker is determined to quit, though, their chosen way to quit smoking will have a greater chance of success.

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It is not easy to quit smoking. It requires great effort on a smoker’s part to overcome nicotine addiction. There are some who stub out a cigarette, and never pick up another one. But these are very few. The others need support, both emotional and medical.

There are several aids that have been developed to help smokers give up the habit. The Nicotine Replacement Therapy, also known as NRT, is one of the most effective ways to quit smoking. Almost one in every two smokers succeeds to give up smoking using this therapy. The number of relapses too is on the lower side.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy treats your psychological cravings by providing small quantities of nicotine to the body, once you quit smoking. The nicotine products are available in the form of gums, lozenges, patches and inhalers. You can take any one of them to meet your nicotine need. As your urge to smoke recedes you can reduce the dosage till you find no further urge to smoke.

Another option is to go for pharmaceutical products like Zyban and Verenicline. Zyban creates a false sense of well being in the person which is similar to the feeling that you get when you are smoking. In this case also the dose is reduced over a period making withdrawal symptoms bearable.

Zyban, however, should be used only under medical supervision. People suffering from fits, hypertension and those who have had strokes or heart attacks earlier should avoid taking this medicine. Scientists are now trying to develop a vaccine to cure nicotine addiction. The vaccine called NicVAX is currently under trial. It works by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain.

Combination therapy is another method that is gaining popularity. This therapy can be customized to suit your preferences. The counseling is especially useful to cope with behavioral changes and emotional swings. The counseling is done by trained counselors who counsel you on the benefits and advantages of not smoking. Both group and individual sessions are held to make the sessions more effective.

Similar to counseling is the newly developed hypnosis treatment. The entire treatment is based on the belief that if the mind can be reconditioned to believe that smoking is bad then a person will not experience any withdrawal symptoms when he quits smoking. The counseling is sometimes combined with medication or NRT to produce better results.

You can also try alternative treatments like acupressure, laser treatment, or herbal cigarettes to quit smoking. However, there is no guarantee of success in these treatments. Much depends on your own individual effort.

If you want to go the cold turkey way then it needs a lot of self-discipline. You need to be realistic about understanding your psychological addiction to nicotine. It is possible that the withdrawal symptoms you experience are more severe than you had anticipated. You should involve your family members and friends when you want to quit smoking. They can provide you the extra emotional support and motivation you need.

You also need to change your lifestyle. Try to eat more greens and fresh fruits. Also, replace alcohol and other beverages with a simple glass of water. It is more effective in curbing your urges. Once you quit smoking you will automatically feel healthier than before. Spend your free time in pursuing a hobby or joining a fitness program. It will make you feel more positive.

Not everybody succeeds the first time. Do not get discouraged if there is a relapse. You should try again. That is the only way to quit smoking.

Vincent Rudnick is a leading authority on effective methods to quit smoking. For more information and stop smoking resources visit: http://quitsmokingforevermore.com

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