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Effective Methods to Quit Smoking
by Raechel Conover
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Overview
Quitting smoking is hard. Most people that have quit claim that it is the hardest thing they have ever had to do. There are several highly effective methods that have been proven to help people quit smoking. Often, these methods can be more effective when used together.
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Facts
Smoking has been proven to cause a slew of health problems including cancer, heart disease, emphysema and more. The American Lung Association states that "smoking related diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly." People who smoke are addicted to nicotine, which makes it very hard to quit smoking. There are effective products and programs that can help people have success in quitting. It is important to note that sometimes it can take several tries to kick the habit.
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Nicotine Replacement Therapy
The most commonly used smoking cessation aids are nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products including nicotine gun, nicotine lozenges and nicotine patches that are sold over the counter. These help minimize withdrawal symptoms. Other NRT products are nicotine inhalers and nicotine nasal sprays. A prescription is needed from a doctor to get these products. The National Cancer Institute says that NRT products, when used correctly, can double the chances of a smoker quitting by replacing the nicotine found in cigarettes with a smaller, more slowly delivered dose. Users are less likely to become addicted to NRT products than to cigarettes and are more easily weened off their use.
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Prescription Medications
In addition to NRT products, there are several prescription drugs that can be effective in helping a person quit smoking. Bupropion, also known as Zyban, is a prescription medication that does not contain nicotine. Bupropion comes in an extended release form and helps reduce the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking. It is safe to take this medication with an NRT product. Varenicline, also known as Chantix, is another prescription medication that has been proven as an effective method to quit smoking. Varenicline works by reducing the pleasure a person gets from smoking and by reducing the withdrawal. Some people using varenicline with NRT products have experienced side effects.
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Support Lines
Finally, an effective method to quit smoking are support lines, such as the American Cancer Society's Quitline. These free support lines set smokers up with a trained counselor who will help them come up with a plan to quit smoking. They are available nights and weekends and are convenient because people do not need to leave their homes to get the support they need. The American Cancer Society states that people who use a support line are twice as likely to quit smoking.
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Considerations
When quitting smoking, it is important to seek medical advice before using any smoking cessation products. It is also important to research the different methods and decide what would be the most effective in helping you quit. Many times it is useful to use several different methods at a time.
