As a smoker There is nothing worse than running into an old friend or workmate only to find they looking younger, thinner and better of than you. Life style can have a huge impact on the way we look and feel and our health. And giving up smoking can not only add years to your life, but also stop adding years to your skin, teeth and lungs.
If you have been thinking about quitting – its important to know your options. I have put together a few notes about your quitting smoking options. Please speak to your doctor or medical professional about which of these is right for you.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
A very popular alternative to actual smoking, Nicotine Replacement Therapy or NRT is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream minus the smoking. It is better in a sense because as studies have revealed cigarettes contain more than 30 other chemicals on top of nicotine to provide the effects they offer. In this category of alternative to smoking, there are various products and forms to choose from. There are nicotine gums, patches, inhalers, tablets, lozenges and sprays.
What does NRT do to the body?
It stops or reduces the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, which is the most common reason why a lot of smokers struggle to stop. As we know, nicotine withdrawal symptoms have unpleasant effects. And by experiencing less of the bad symptoms, the smoker has a greater chance of succeeding in the quit plan.
Smoking-Cessation Products
This alternative, on the other hand, offers prescription medicines that are known to alter the chemicals in the brains to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Some known brands are Chantix and Zyban, which can also be used in combination with NRT. Used for those who experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
How does it work?
- Does not contain nicotine yet help you succeed in your plan to quit by:
- Helping you curb your craving for tobacco
- Reducing the effects of withdrawal symptoms
- Helping you not to relapse
Alternative Therapies
These are natural ways that do not involve taking any type of medication. It has been noted that some people have been successful in quitting smoking just by using therapies alone.
Examples of widely used alternative therapies:
Hypnotherapy
uses hypnosis, a method that alters the state of awareness of a person, in which he appears to be asleep or in a trance. During hypnosis for smoking cessation, the patient is often asked to imagine unpleasant outcomes from smoking. One popular hypnosis method used for this particular purpose is known as Spiegel’s method.
Acupuncture
it is a commonly used therapy to help people quit smoking. It uses hair-thin like acupuncture needles. These are inserted into various points in the ear where these are left for about 20 minutes. In between sessions, many acupuncturists provide tiny balls that they tape with invisible tape to the ear. They ask their patients to press these gently whenever they experience cravings. This stimulates the acupuncture point in place of the needle.
Meditation
is another alternative way to quit smoking. It relaxes the mind and the nervous system, which in turn helps the smoker to mimic the “relaxing” effect they get when they smoke.
Support Therapies
counselling and stop-smoking groups are some of the popular ways to do support therapy. Many doctors and smoking cessation specialists highly recommend the use of support therapy method in conjunction with chemical or NRT for a higher success rate.
So, if you are seriously thinking about quitting smoking, you can always look at these alternative ways and start from there. Check them out and get more information to help you decide which route to take.
One product to consider from the NRT category is NicoretteGum.