Ten tips for giving up smoking

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Ten tips for giving up smoking
Most people are now aware that cigarette smoking is a major preventable cause of premature death and disease: It causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease. For this reason, many people are eager to stop.Here are ten of the most effective methods used to quit smoking and stay stopped.

1. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) provides a low level of nicotine without the other poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke.

This helps to ease some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, such as intense cravings, nausea, tingling of hands and feet, insomnia, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. NRT is available as:

gum
patches
sprays
inhalers
lozenges2. Varenicline
Varenicline (Champix) works by triggering the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Smoking raises levels of this feel-good chemical in the body artificially. So, when smokers quit, they often experience depression and anxiety until their natural dopamine production levels are restored.

Varenicline helps to counteract these low dopamine levels and lessen some of the symptoms caused by nicotine withdrawal.
3. Bupropion

Bupropion may be particularly useful for those concerned about potential weight gain while quitting smoking as it has been shown to decrease appetite and the tendency to overeat.

4. E-cigarettes
An e-cigarette is an electronic device that allows for the inhalation of nicotine in a vapour without the other harmful byproducts of tobacco, such as tar and carbon monoxide.This study shows that smokers following the Allen Carr method were six times more likely to have not smoked after 13 months compared with those going cold turkey.
5. Allen Carr's Easyway
6. Lobelia
There is anecdotal evidence which suggests that lobelia (also called Indian tobacco) can help people to stop smoking. Lobeline, the active ingredient in the lobelia plant, is thought to work by binding to the same receptor sites in the brain as nicotine, causing a release of dopamine, therefore helping with the mood swings and cravings that occur when stopping smoking.

7. Vitamins B and C
Various studies have shown that smokers generally have lower concentrations of circulating B vitamins and lower levels of vitamin C as compared with non-smokers. Smokers often cite stress as one of the triggers that increases the craving for a cigarette.
8. Use an app to track habits
9. Make a listreasons may include:

Improving overall health.
Saving money.
Setting a good example for children.
Looking better and smelling better.
Taking control and becoming 
10. Practice Tai Chi
A study in the Journal of Addiction and Therapy suggests that practicing Tai Chi three times a week is an effective means to help people "either stop smoking or reduce their habit." An added benefit of Tai Chi is that it improves blood pressure and reduces stress. Mind-body practices such as yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi offer an alternative drug-free treatment option to those trying to quit.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241302.php