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stopsmokinghowstuffworks comIf you want to stop smoking, then you are in the right place.
The next part of preparing yourself mentally to quit smoking is to be aware that you’re facing a battle - perhaps the most important battle of your life. As with any battle, you’ll need tools and weapons to assist you. From support systems to medications, there are a variety of avenues open to you that will help you succeed. Part of getting ready to quit smoking also includes things like setting a specific quit date - whether you go “cold turkey” or engage in a gradual cessation, set a firm date that tells you exactly when you’ll become a non-smoker. Get a calendar and circle the date in red marking pen - or use some other method of setting that goal in your mind. Don’t say “I’m going to quit in 30 days.” Say “I’m going to quit smoking on June 15th.” Make it a specific, measurable goal. When you take a puff on that cigarette, you’re inhaling approximately 4,000 chemical compounds contained within the smoke. From tar to nicotine, several of these compounds are known carcinogens, meaning they’re cancer-causing. If you ask most people what are the most common diseases caused by smoking they’ll say lung cancer and emphysema - but surprisingly, heart disease is the biggest killer of smokers, at almost twice the rate of lung cancer and emphysema. Withdrawal symptoms from quitting smoking last a relatively short period of time during the quitting process, but can cause unpleasant levels of discomfort during that time. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include mood swings (anxiety, irritableness, short-tempered or cranky), inability to sleep, extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, coughing, headaches, stomach upset and the like. The craving to smoke is perhaps one of the most difficult symptoms to deal with - because if you give into that craving, you’ve eliminated all the effort you’ve put into having a smoke-free day. If you’re quitting “cold turkey” it may cause higher levels of stress, just as abrupt withdrawal from any drug would cause in bodily systems. Because your body no longer has the drug it’s addicted to, the need for the stimuli from smoking can become an overwhelming craving. But by the same token, many people find that quitting cold turkey works better for their personalities because it removes the source of their addiction and they can concentrate on getting through the withdrawal period. Eight hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal, and your oxygen level in your bloodstream increases to normal. At 24 hours your chances of suffering a heart attack decrease. At 48 hours nerve endings start to re-grow, and taste and smell sensations return to almost normal levels. Join a yoga class or learn ways to meditate. When the craving for a cigarette arrives, replace it with a stretching exercise or a calming meditation session. Start a daily journal - when you feel the urge to light up, make an entry in the journal instead. There are innumerable ways you can distract yourself from that craving to smoke - find the ones that work best for you. If you’re a smoker, you’re already aware that the “nicotine police” are out to get you. This isn’t just paranoid fantasy - it’s becoming a fact of life that legislators from local city councils to the federal government are taking aim at smokers, with the ultimate intent of outlawing smoking in any form. Tell your family and friends that you’re quitting, and ask them for their help. They can assist you by not smoking around you, not leaving cigarettes out in your presence (out of sight, out of mind), and giving you encouragement as you work your way through withdrawal.
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