{"id":11276,"date":"2020-10-28T11:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=11276"},"modified":"2020-10-27T16:31:13","modified_gmt":"2020-10-27T21:31:13","slug":"6-tips-to-quit-smoking-for-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/6-tips-to-quit-smoking-for-good\/","title":{"rendered":"6 tips to quit smoking for good"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Need help to quit smoking?<\/p>\n

Read more about smoking cessation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s no secret that smoking is dangerous for your health. Not only does it increase your risk of lung cancer, it\u2019s also a leading cause of heart attacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmoking is the No. 1 reversible risk factor in terms of decreasing heart attacks in the future. That\u2019s because everybody has small blockages (buildups of fat and cholesterol) inside their body. They grow much faster in a person who is smoking,\u201d said Tamir Baman, MD<\/a>, a cardiologist with OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But quitting is very difficult for many smokers. Not only are the chemicals in cigarettes addictive, smoking becomes part of a person\u2019s routine that\u2019s difficult to stop. The addiction is social, hormonal and chemical.<\/p>\n

With the right support, quitting is possible. These are Dr. Baman\u2019s tips to quit smoking and protect your heart and body.<\/p>\n

Commit to quitting<\/h2>\n

Many people will try to quit, sometimes many times, before they are finally successful.<\/p>\n

Evidence shows that the people who are most successful are the ones who are fully committed to quitting for their own reasons, rather than to please someone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing is deciding, \u2018I need to do this for my overall health. I need to do this to protect my lungs, to prevent a heart attack,\u2019\u201d Dr. Baman said. \u201cIf you\u2019re doing it because your family member wants you to stop smoking, researchers have determined that\u2019s not as successful as if you decide for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find a partner<\/h2>\n

Having someone who will support you and hold you accountable can help you stick it out when things get tough.<\/p>\n

That can be another person going through the same thing who also wants to quit smoking, or someone who is committed to encouraging you.<\/p>\n

Work with your primary care provider<\/h2>\n

\"femaleMedications are available to help combat the hormonal need for nicotine. They work by targeting the nicotine receptors in your body to dull the chemical\u2019s effect.<\/p>\n

Talk with your primary care provider<\/a>, who may prescribe these medications.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can start the medications prior to stopping smoking, so that when you stop smoking, those receptors are blunted and you don\u2019t have as many side effects,\u201d Dr. Baman said.<\/p>\n

Pick a start date \u2013 and stick to it<\/h2>\n

The decision to quit smoking doesn\u2019t demand an instant response.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling to stop smoking, pick a date in the future that will be the first day of your smoke-free life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be in two months from now, but it gives you a goal and a process to get where you want to be on a certain date,\u201d Dr. Baman said.<\/p>\n

Nicotine alternatives can help \u2013 but pick a safe one<\/h2>\n

Nicotine gum, patches and lozenges can safely help reduce the urge to smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we don\u2019t recommend is switching to an electronic cigarette<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Baman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know what the chemicals do in the long term. People often think that\u2019s a safe approach, when in reality it may not be any better than smoking. We need more data on what is in those electronic cigarettes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep trying until you succeed<\/h2>\n

None of these approaches is a magic bullet to quitting smoking.<\/p>\n

Use any combination of these strategies to find the path forward that allows you to be successful. And know that if you experience a setback, you can keep trying.<\/p>\n

Overcoming a nicotine addiction is difficult, but it\u2019s never too late to set yourself on a path for a healthier life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people who have the mental fortitude can overcome it, but it can be difficult. It\u2019s something you have to persevere toward. Failing once is OK. You have to try again and again,\u201d Dr. Baman said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the right support, quitting is possible. These tips will help you quit smoking and protect your heart and body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":11293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[733],"tags":[743,2,655,730],"coauthors":[757],"class_list":["post-11276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lung-respiratory-health","tag-addiction","tag-health-tips","tag-osf-cardiovascular-institute","tag-smoking"],"yoast_head":"\n6 tips to quit smoking for good | OSF HealthCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With the right support, quitting is possible. 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