How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes & Stop Smoking For Good
Yes, you CAN quit smoking cigarettes and stop smoking for good. You can quit smoking today, right now at this very minute. The reasons to quit smoking are well-known, and there are many methods to stop smoking which will help you lead a happier, healthier, smoke-free life, where you can proudly say “I quit smoking” once and for all. You can and need to decide to quit smoking right now, today.
Why is it so hard to quit smoking? Because of nicotine. Nicotine addiction, a drug found in tobacco, is just as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.” Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. Even if you have quit smoking before, but started smoking again, you are not a failure. You just need help, encouragement, advice and “quit smoking support” in order to kick the habit and stop smoking for good.
The US Surgeon General says, “Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives.”
The dangers of smoking and negative affects on your overall health and well-being as well as the health risks associated with secondhand smoke, has lead to nationwide smoking bans in public places including workplaces, restaurants and bars. Research studies show smoking bans help decrease the number of cigarettes people smoke and may help people quit smoking successfully once and for all.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Quitting smoking is hard because smokers must learn how to quit smoking and how to deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms while trying to quit, such as:
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Irritability, anger
- Anxiety, restlessness
- Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, bad dreams or nightmares
- Difficulty in concentration
- Headaches, fatigue
- Increased appetite and concerns about possible weight gain when quitting smoking (yes you can quit smoking without gaining weight)
It’s very important for smokers to seriously consider the benefits of quitting smoking, and the positive affects quitting will have on your own health and body when you give up smoking, as well as the decreased risks involved with secondhand smoke on those around you.
Making the decision to stop smoking right now isn’t just for your own good. Kicking your smoking habit also creates a healthier environment for your children and loved ones, but also helps protect the general public from the damaging affects of cigarette smoke.
What Happens When You Quit Smoking
- In 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse rate will decrease and drop back down to normal and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
- At 8 hours the carbon monoxide levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and blood oxygen levels will return to normal due to the decrease in carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
- In 24 hours your risk of having a heart attack will have decreased.
- In 48 hours all nicotine will have left your body, nerve endings start to re-grow and your sense of taste and smell return to normal levels.
- In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
- Between 2 weeks and 3 months your circulation improves, walking and exercise becomes easier, coughing and wheezing is greatly reduced, phlegm production is reduced, and overall lung function continues to improve significantly.
- In three to nine months coughing, wheezing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing problems dissipate as you see significant improvement in lung capacity and function.
- In 1 year your risk of coronary heart disease and risk of heart attack will have dropped by half that of a smoker.
- Between 5 to 10 years after quitting smoking your risk of having a stroke or developing lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
- In 15 years your risk of having a heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
How to Quit Smoking
What is the best way to stop smoking? Some smokers quit smoking cold turkey and never crave or pick up a cigarette again for the rest of their lives. Others have stopped smoking with the help of the quit smoking book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Other smokers have been able to quit smoking with the help of stop smoking aids, often referred to as Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Quit smoking medication like Chantix (developed by Pfizer, Inc. and approved by the FDA) reduces the smokers cravings for nicotine when he or she quits smoking. A person who smokes while using Chantix finds his smoking satisfaction and enjoyment is greatly reduced due to the drug’s ability to block nicotine from binding with the nicotinic receptors in the brain. Chantix is by prescription only.
Zyban, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL have also been shown to dramatically reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine, and is also by prescription only. When considering any stop smoking medications to help you quit smoking, carefully review any and all known side effects of each drug. Chantix, for example, has been reported as having unhealthy side effects such as sleep disturbances, nausea and suicidal thoughts.
Other alternative options to stop smoking include hypnosis and acupuncture, and while some have seen good results, others have not been successful in quitting with either option. The stop smoking shot (Smart, Welplex or Quit 1-2-3) costs around $400.00 or more, and is injected behind the ears. Ouch! Smart is a one shot injection while Welplex or Quit 1-2-3 are three dosed shots, followed by pills and nicotine patches, so be sure to have a conversation with your doctor before deciding on stop smoking shots given at clinics.
Quit Smoking Now! Your efforts to quit smoking once and for all will be greatly enhanced by joining and participating in support groups with other like-minded people trying to stop smoking for good, with the support group called CafeMom being one of many. Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and kicking the habit once and for all!
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Wow Lin, when you write a post you really write a post! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so much information on why and how to stop smoking! It may be a cliche, but I say the best way to stop is to never start. My dad smoked for most of his life, and quit several times. He finally stopped for good a few years ago but only after getting chronic bronchitis. He now chews a lot of nicorette? gum! I compliment anyone that stops and stays stopped as I recognize how hard it must be. Again, I’m just glad I never started.
~Steve (aka the Trade Show Guru)
Hi Steve, with so many towns/states implementing smoking bans and of course for the overall importance for people to quit smoking for their own health and to protect others from secondhand smoke, I just felt the need to do a stop smoking article. Hopefully people will realize they can quit smoking and finally say “I quit smoking” and never go back to smoking ever again.
I didn’t quit because our loving government is tricking you into thinking the control is to protect us from second-hand smoke, when there is TONS of pollution coming from Cars & trucks that is left unchecked. – The real reason for smoking bans is for more fascist control. – But anyways; I’m not quitting because of the bans; I’m quitting for my own health, & so I can fight the new world order more…
Hi Dave, welcome to Telling It Like It Is. It’s great that you’ve decided to quit smoking for your own health and I wish you much luck in your efforts to kick the habit.
I’ve never been a smoker, but having lived with someone who was a smoker for more than 2 decades, I believe that having a tangible goal is a big help. Sure, everyone knows that being healthier is an excellent reason to quit, but that’s a bit abstract. She had resolved to quit for her health’s sake and tried patches, tapering off, and a couple of other non-prescription options several times but none had ever really come close to success. But when we set our sights on adopting a child, this seemed to give my wife a real, concrete incentive to quit.
She stopped cold turkey on New Year’s Eve nearly 3 years ago with one pack remaining in the carton. That same unopened pack is still in the freezer, kept there to remind her that she quit not because she was out, but because she was done. She struggled considerably at first, but she’s never relapsed. She’s kinda my hero!
Hi Lin – I owe you an email. I’m too talky to reply to you on Twitter – will be in touch tomorrow. I’ve had really bad PMT the last few days so didn’t feel like talking to anyone.
Your headline really called out to me. Quitting smoking is something I’ve got to do. I have this book and you’re supposed to quit on the last chapter. But I can’t make myself read the last chapter.
I’ve done it before – but always started again. Mind you – that was when I was married to the biggest asshole on the planet.
I had no idea you could get shots from the doctor – I really would consider trying anything. And being less likely to have a heart-attack by my early fifties is definitely appealing.
I’m going to check out some of your resources.
Rob, I’m so glad your wife was able to find the workable method for her to quit smoking. You’re right, many people try a variety of ways to quit but often go back to smoking again. It’s very hard to quit, but it is doable.
Having a goal in mind, or as some would say a stop smoking deadline date has given many people an added push to stop smoking, such as while making a New Year’s Resolution. Congratulations to her for being able to quit and not going back to smoking again.
Hi Cath – I’ll be sure to watch for the email tomorrow. I hope you feel better soon too.
You can quit smoking Cath, and it’s understandable that stress can really make it difficult to quit if not impossible, at least temporarily. You might want to check out the stop smoking shot and perhaps even research and talk to your doctor about Chantix. There have been quite a large number of patients at our office who have successfully quit smoking using Chantix, and they have never mentioned anything about having any trouble sleeping or experience things like suicidal thoughts etc.
Whatever stop-smoking method a person chooses, it’s important to make the decision to quit and that is probably one of the hardest things smokers can do; making that final decision to actually quit. Keep trying Cath, you can do it!
Nice and well written article here, Lin.
Yep, I always advised my students not to smoke, as it bring countless harmness to our health, but not a single benefit!
Oh, the lung cancer, which is always topping the chart in the most killing diseases worldwide has been identified that 80% of the lung cancer patients were heavy smokers!
Hi Wilson, there are so many serious health risks of smoking, and lung cancer is just one of them. It’s great that you remind your students not to start smoking, and I hope they listen.
I’ve quit smoking three years ago. I discovered that it’s very easy, once you change the perception you have about yourself. Before I was thinking at myself as being a smoker. When I quit, I still thought I was a smoker, but one who has stopped temporarily. After a while, I started to refer to myself as being a non-smoker. From that point on, that was a won battle. So, I’d say a smoker who wants to quit needs to work at his own perception about himself. It really helps.
Simonne, congratulations on being able to quit smoking once and for all. For some people, quitting is especially difficult and end up start smoking all over again, and then continue to “try” to quit. Visualizing yourself as a non-smoker is a great idea, and really getting into the mental state of not smoking anymore. Good job!
Hi Lin – thanks. I’ll check with my doctor to see if Chantix is available over here.
[...] to a Cause How to Quit Smoking Cigarettes & Stop Smoking For GoodAre You Living A Significant [...]
I just sent this link to my friend David…who has been trying to quit smoking for years…He just had throat surgery and has a tumor in his thyroid. Thanks and I’ll be back.
Dorothy from grammology
Hi Dorothy, I hope your friend will be alright. Quitting smoking is the best thing he could do for himself. Hopefully the tumor in his thyroid will not be cancerous, but kicking the habit right now is very important. Good luck to him!
Hi Lin,
The government at my place just came up with a ban on smoking at public places. But I really dont know how effective it would be to curb the smoking habits of people. Iwish they could do something constructive and raise awareness about the issue.
Your post is very nicely written. It is sure going to many of my friends!
Hi Maneet,
Many places, towns, restaurants etc are implementing smoking bans in public places across the U.S. It may (I emphasize “may”) help curb some people’ s smoking habits since they are more limited on where they can light up. Of course, there’s the increasing costs of smoking and higher taxes on cigarettes that is causing some people to decide to quit smoking after having smoked for many, many years. Hopefully smokers will find they can stop smoking and finally begin referring to themselves as non-smokers.
I smoked for many years but eventually decided to stop, cold turkey. I still believe that the ultimate key to quitting smoking, or anything else for that matter, is to have a good reason for doing it. Ask yourself why you should go through the pain of separation from your smoking habits… is there a good enough reason for you? Your health? Your family? Money? If you don’t give yourself a truly convincing/valid reason, then you will most likely fail at the attempt, no matter how expensive the treatment is.
Herb, many smokers want to quit but since nicotine addiction has such a strong hold on a smoker, (as well as the need to “find something else to do with my hands”), many people end up quitting and then start up all over again. It’s very difficult for some people to quit once and for all, but with the right tools and mindset, it is doable.
Hi Lin, I really enjoy reading your articles. Not only do you point out the many reasons to quit smoking and what happens after you quit but you also provide different methods of quitting.
I used to smoke many years ago on a weekly basis. Recently, I would smoke on occasion, usually after a drink or if I was really upset, until one day I blew out smoke from my lungs 3 days after having a cigarette. That did it for me. To think, you have all this toxic junk in your body after you puff, disgusting.
I guess you could say it’s pretty obvious but after witnessing it for my own eyes…no more! Dawn
Hi Dawn, I haven’t ever heard of someone blowing out smoke 3 days after smoking a cigarette but that really is gross, and I’m glad that you’ve been able to quit smoking once and for all. Yeah! P.S. I edited your comment “name” to say Dawn @Glendale Attorneys rather than just the keyword name of Glendale Attorneys. That’s a no-no.
I would love to share this to my relatives back home so that they’ll quit smoking.
Hi Lin,
Just want to add that once you stop smoking, your skin condition can also improve if you start exercising to get your blood to flow to your skin. This will help to put the pink into the otherwise greyish skin due to smoking.
Smoking can make anyone look older than they are, so it is wise to quit smoking
[...] Quit smoking [...]
I am making a commitment to quit Jan 22 and have to do it for my health wish me success
I have smoked for 45 years and guess what I have got mild enphyema so have set a date to quit….I am also getting everything prepared to help me fight this terrible addiction…picked my quit date as the day my mom died I am 61 now and have at last seen the light what I thought was enjoyable now is awful I know I can do this going out to pick up a book too thanks for listening
Malcolm, somehow your comment above was missed. I’m sorry I didn’t respond promptly. Quitting smoking does amazing things to a person, including skin conditions, dryness etc.
Joan, quitting smoking is a great thing to do for yourself. I’m glad to hear you’ve set a quit date and are thinking through the preparations to quit once and for all. Good luck!