You know what smoking does to you. You’ve read and heard all about it and everyone from your doctor to your mother has told you how it wrecks your health and shortens your lifespan. If you’re like most people, you might have tried to quit at least once in your life, perhaps as a New Year’s resolution or a birthday challenge to yourself.
But if you still haven’t got rid of the habit, don’t lose hope. In the last several years, new medical research and solutions have been developed to help people drop their nicotine dependence once and for all. These options such as medical treatment, therapy and nicotine replacement therapy have become more accessible than ever before, allowing more and more individuals get the help they need.
Whatever the reasons why your previous attempts did not succeed, hopefully you’ll have a better chance today with these newer, more improved methods. Check out this list, beat the odds and quit smoking soon.
Nicotine Therapy. Smoking addiction is triggered and nurtured by both behavioural and chemical factors. Nicotine therapy targets the chemical component of the addiction, therefore allowing you to concentrate on the behavioural component and enables you to have an easier transition. Nicotine replacement comes in various forms, including gums, inhalers and patches.
Pharmaceutical Options. Medical research has discovered that a drug called Zyban, a mild anti-depressant, has properties that can assist a person to quit smoking. The drug encourages the production of dopamine in the brain, generating good mood and positive feelings that can be crucial in helping people cope with the effects of withdrawal. This mode of treatment does not ask the patient to cut smoking abruptly, making the transition gradual and more sustainable. It can only be tried via prescription and under the close monitoring of a doctor.
Combination Therapy. Most medical professionals recommend this route for people looking for a personalised way on how to quit smoking. It usually involves the use of medication, nicotine therapy and behavioural conditioning under a carefully supervised regime that addresses both the habitual and chemical aspects of nicotine dependency. This can be more expensive and may require a more time-intensive process. But its high success rate makes it a valuable investment for your health and quality of life.
Based on statistics and case precedents, the four options mentioned above deliver the highest level of effectiveness compared to other known methods. However, based on your lifestyle, personality and other requirements, you can also take a look at other complementary options such as support groups, hypnotherapy and alternative medicine to achieve the best results.