You know that smoking is injurious to health but even if you want to quit smoking you may find it difficult for more than one reason. The harmful effects of smoking need no introduction; they are all over the place. Besides serious ailments like mouth, throat and larynx cancer, ulcer, stroke and heart disease, smoking also results in a host of minor ailments. We are so addicted that we tend to ignore these minor ailments and brush them away as not being due smoking. Smoker’s cough is something that all smokers are aware of but would rather seek treatment elsewhere rather than stop smoking. Moreover, we tend to justify smoking habit by making ourselves believe that smoking helps in concentration and cessation will lead to unmanageable withdrawal symptoms. Admittedly, smoking cessation is indeed difficult. We will admit that it is a bad habit, even resolve to quit smoking, but only to start smoking again.

Fortunately, now quit smoking help is readily available. Despite that the most important thing is your commitment to smoking cessation. You may get help in the shape of nicotine gums, patches and pills but at the end of the day it is only your firm resolve and sticking to it that matters the most for quitting the habit. Even a firm resolve and willpower alone helps only in about 5% of the cases. The problem is nicotine dependence and very few people succeed in their first attempt. A typical attempt that succeeds is either the fifteenth or seventeenth or even later.

Each attempt at quitting smoking is a new experience. While a serious commitment is necessary, it is equally important to seek medical and psychological support. This support is important for managing withdrawal symptoms that may include mental problems including depression, particularly in women. A smoking program should thus combine counseling and pharmacological support.

All programs for how to quit smoking focus on immediate and total cessation. The support is for helping you to stick to the commitment. Gradual or tapering or nicotine weaning, although the most commonly used technique, is usually not successful, especially with heavy smokers. Abrupt cessation is the most successful method for quitting.

Quit smoking now to minimize the tobacco’s harmful health effects. A study by doctors in Britain shows that those who stopped smoking before reaching 30 lived as long as if they had never smoked. A variety of nicotine containing substitutes or nicotine replacement has proved to be very effective in helping people in quitting this harmful habit.

Check up on the latest innovative products that help in smoking cessation. There is a wide range of products available in the market. From nicotine gum to nicotine patches to an electronic cigarette with a heating element that vaporizes liquid nicotine. One of the many products is likely to suit you and help you to quit smoking.

Health Research

• Center for disease control
• Smoke Free Goverment Program