Ready to Quit Smoking? Here Are Some Ways to Get Started

Smoking doesn’t just open the door for lung cancer in the future. The habit can ultimately harm every organ in your body and cause a plethora of chronic illnesses. 

From hypertension to chronic lung disease, the health effects of smoking are severe and increasingly likely to occur the longer you maintain a smoking habit. Unfortunately, since nicotine is addictive, quitting smoking for good often requires multiple attempts. 

Board-certified family physicians Clifton Etienne, MD, Michael Cavanagh, MD, and Flora Brewington, MD, know that the long- and short-term effects of smoking are no joke. At Westmed Family Healthcare in Westminster, Colorado, our team can help you quit smoking for good. 

Whether you’re most concerned about the short-term health effects like spikes in blood pressure or the long-term risks of lung and heart diseases, you’re making a great choice for your health by exploring smoking cessation. 

If you’re one of the 34.3 million people in the United States who smoke, keep reading to discover your best steps toward becoming a nonsmoker.

1. Discover safe substitutes

A smoking habit isn’t limited to a nicotine addiction. The behaviors of going outside, taking drags, and socializing can all inform a smoking habit too. Consider replacing these behaviors with comparable behaviors that don’t involve cigarettes, cigars, or vapes. 

You might take a walk outside instead of smoking so you can still enjoy the fresh air. If you enjoy the oral sensation of smoking, consider chewing on a toothpick or cinnamon stick while driving or taking a walk. Feel free to get creative with your replacements, and talk to your doctor for personalized tips. 

2. Open the door for moral support

It may seem counterintuitive to tell your loved ones that you’re quitting smoking, especially if you’re not sure you can live up to the task. But informing those around you of your intent to stop opens the door for much-needed moral support. With others holding you accountable, you might be less likely to leave the room for a smoke break. 

If close friends or family members smoke, they may be able to support you by avoiding smoking in front of you. They’ll also know not to invite you to join them for a smoke break or offer you cigarettes. 

Be sure to tell medical professionals, including your dentist and primary care provider, of your intent to quit smoking. They can offer additional moral support plus medical facts and tips for additional encouragement. 

3. Learn to navigate withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms add an extra layer of difficulty to successful smoking cessation. Common withdrawal symptoms from nicotine include:

• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Cravings
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Hunger
• Anxiety

Hone in on your withdrawal symptoms and get creative with ways to manage them. Trouble sleeping while quitting smoking is often related to caffeine lasting longer in your body when you don’t smoke. Therefore, you might need to drink caffeinated beverages earlier in the day than you did as a smoker. 

If you experience restlessness as a withdrawal symptom, consider exercising more often to burn energy. Consult with our team at Westmed Family Healthcare on how to navigate and manage your specific withdrawal symptoms as you quit smoking. 

4. Consider using medication assistance

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) involves getting a nicotine supply from somewhere other than a cigarette, cigar, or vape. Patches, gum, and lozenges contain small amounts of nicotine to help you stop smoking and reduce cravings so you can wean your way off of nicotine. And they don’t contain the hundreds of harmful chemicals that cigarettes do. 

There are also two FDA-approved prescription medications for smoking cessation: 

Bupropion

Bupropion can decrease your cravings for nicotine while also minimizing your withdrawal symptoms like restlessness and anxiety. 

Varenicline

Varenicline mimics the effects of nicotine on your brain so you’re less likely to reach for a cigarette. It also makes cigarettes and other nicotine sources less satisfying. 

Talk to our team at Westmed Family Healthcare to find out if medications for smoking cessation are right for you. For additional tips and strategies to quit smoking, call Westmed Family Healthcare today to book an appointment or schedule one online anytime.