The Many Ways To Stop Smoking

Any smoker will attest to the fact that smoking is one of the most difficult habits to break. This is primarily due to the psychological symptoms that smokers experience when they stop smoking and also because they have become addicted to nicotine and are heavily dependant on it. This makes it even more difficult to suggest any one way that is the best for breaking the habit of smoking. What may work well for one smoker would probably have no effect on another.

This by no way means that it is impossible for a smoker to stop smoking. One of the most effective ways to break the smoking habit is to read all the various recommended and tested ways and then choose one program that you think would suit you the best and one that you are likely to follow. NRT, or nicotine replacement therapy, is one of the most commonly used methods to break the habit of smoking. It is considered the most effective. Other treatment options include medication, counseling or emotional therapy or a combination of any two or all three of these methods.

The success rate of any of these programs depends largely on how the smoker deals with the inevitable withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement therapy consists of giving nicotine to the smoker in small doses at a time in the form of nicotine patches, nasal sprays, inhalers or gum. How it works is, the body is constantly supplied with nicotine, albeit at lower levels, which help reduce the nicotine cravings in the body. The nicotine supply is reduced slowly and steadily, allowing the smoker body and mind to adjust to the lower levels, before stopping it completely. Nicotine replacement therapy has a high success rate with very people relapsing back into the smoking habit even several years after they have stopped the treatment.

One of the things to keep in mind is that smoking should be absolutely avoided while undergoing nicotine replacement therapy. This is because it could raise the nicotine levels in the body to dangerous levels. Nicotine patches and gums are available easily at any medical store while the other NRT forms should only be taken while under medical supervision.

Zyban, a drug that is often used to break the habit of smoking, works by stimulating the release of norepinephrine and dopamine in the body, which are the chemicals that produce similar feelings that are brought about by smoking. This treatment has a rather modest success rate with patients often returning to their old smoking habits after a while. It is particularly important that patients attempting to stop smoking with the help of Zyban should stay in constant touch with their consulting physician. It is important to take Zyban only under medical supervision and pregnant women as well as patients suffering from epilepsy and cardiac disorders are advised against taking it at all.

Psychological counseling help smokers fight the various withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping smoking including anxiety and mood changes. Trained professionals counsel former smokers and help them stay emotionally strong in their fight to stop smoking. Alternative therapies including yoga and meditation have also been found to be useful.