As the new year approaches, people will begin to set their new year’s resolutions. One of the top resolutions for smokers is to quit smoking or maybe just to cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke each day. At HHER, we support anyone trying to make a healthy lifestyle change. If you think about it, smoking is not worth having a stroke or damaging your health. But it’s easier said than done. According to health educators, it’s easier for people to quit cocaine than it is to quit smoking. Why? There is not a detox or rehab for smoking cigarettes. However, all is not lost. Here are some tips to quit smoking and start getting healthy.
- Quit cold turkey. Throw away every ashtray and cigarette in your home. This, of course, is harder than it sounds, but it has worked for many smokers.
- Focus on the reason why you want to quit every time you get the urge to smoke.
- Find other ways to relax or unwind, such as meditation, listening to music, or a hobby you enjoy.
- Reach out to a quit smoking program or hotline.
- Try over-the-counter quit aids.
- Consult with your doctor about medications to help you quit smoking.
- Establish a support system. This might mean spending less time with other smokers and more time with friends who do not smoke.
- Know your triggers and avoid them as much as possible.
- Refrain from being around secondhand smoke.
- Start cutting back little by little. For instance, if you smoke a pack per day, cut two out every week until you reach your goal. Remember, most people try to quit seven to ten times before actually succeeding. Hang in there!
There is a lot of research that proves that smoking is unhealthy for the smoker and those around them. Smoking remains a major health crisis causing severe health conditions, like cardiovascular and lung disease. With all of the health impacts of breathing in air pollution, it’s even more important to protect our lung health by quitting smoking.
If you’re ready to give up cigarettes for good, visit cdc.gov for more tips on getting help to quit once and for always.
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