Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Struggling with trying to quit using tobacco?

Health Note from Mayo Clinic: A number of different strategies for Tobacco Cessation can be successful. It’s just a matter of finding the one that’s right for you.

What kind of strategies have you tried to help break your smoking habit? Some people want to stay away from nicotine-based treatments like nicotine gum or the transdermal patch, because they want to stay completely away from nicotine. One natural way to quit smoking is "cold turkey." For some, using willpower alone to quit smoking may seem unmanageable, but according to a large study by the American Public Health Association, this method was used by 85% of all successful long-term quitters. Plus, it’s the cheapest option. Pick a realistic target quit date and decide what you are going to do with the cash you will be saving. Having something in mind that you want to spend the money on can give you an extra push of motivation.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is another natural way to quit smoking, where the individual works with a therapist who helps redirect the smoker’s mind away from nicotine. This type of therapy has helped smokers identity what causes their cravings and reinforces healthy behaviors to replace the nicotine.
Lastly, self-help books can also assist in breaking smoking habits. Allen Carr says in his book, Easy Way to Stop Smoking, “Once smokers lose their fear, it really is easy. The idea that smoking provides any genuine pleasure or crutch is a delusion. The stress that nicotine supposedly relieves is actually created by the nicotine itself - We remove this delusion.” So when you’re ready to quit, know that the many possibilities to help you make that change will be available, and hopefully that behavior change will be a permanent one.

From:
Amy Every
Senior Communication Consultant, Marketing Communications
Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare
mayoclinichealthsystem.org

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