There are many ways to quit smoking cigarette including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) which has shown to be successful in helping 70% of those trying to quit.  The therapy operates by supplying nicotine into your bloodstream at slow rate, mimicking the nicotine you receive from cigarette smoke without the carcinogenic chemicals. For those trying to quit smoking cigarette it provides a way to control and reduce cigarette cravings due to nicotine withdrawal.

NRT is available as :-

• Patches – These stick to your skin and are commonly worn on the arm and are one of the most common ways to quit smoking cigarette. They release nicotine for 16 hours to cover the time you are awake when you would love a cigarette.
• Chewing gum- Sometimes smokers need to have something in their mouth to help them quit smoking cigarette and the chewing gum facilitates this. 4mg gum should be used for those who normally would smoke more than 18 cigarettes a day, while the 2mg gum is for those that smoke less than 18 a day.
• Inhalers – These give smokers something to hold and keep their hands busy while releasing nicotine once inhaled.  This nicotine helps beat cravings and helps smokers to quit smoking cigarette once and for all.
• Tablets- Can be placed under the tongue and release nicotine
• Nasal spray – A spray which releases nicotine through the nose lining

These five therapies offer something to suit everyone trying to quit smoking cigarette.  Unfortunately NRT has a few side effects such as itchy skin from patch wear, upset sleep patterns, nauseous stomach, light headness and possibly coughing as a result of the nasal spray. However the dangers of smoking far outweight these minor symptoms, so quit smoking cigarette today with the help of nicotine replacement therapy.

First set a date for stopping and stick to it. Some people also have this false idea that cutting down on cigarettes smoked actually helps them to quit easier, well this is not true; it is better to stop completely. Do not keep putting the date back. Your date for stopping should be as soon as possible, and when it arrives make sure you have cleared your house of all cigarette products including the cigarettes themselves, lighters, ashtrays, matches and so forth. You do not want anything in the house to remind you of them.

Second make a list of all the reasons you want to quit smoking, such as those listed in the previous post.  Keep this list in a prominent place, perhaps stick it to your fridge.  Any time you feel a cigarette craving coming on, retrieve the list and read it to remind yourself why you are giving up.

Third save the money you would be spending on cigarettes. Put this money into a jar, and at the end of every month take it out and treat yourself. You could buy a holiday, new clothes, anything you fancy. The fact that you are rewarding yourself will make you feel more positive about giving up and encourage you to stay off the cigarettes.

Next join a group where others have also given up. This way you can all encourage and support one another, and exchange tips on how to beat cigarette cravings. If there are no local groups, find someone else you know to quit smoking cigarette and help each other.

Finally keep yourself busy and take up another hobby. If you keep active and busy then you will have less time to think about and crave for cigarettes.

These tips should help you on your way to quit smoking cigarette. In a subsequent post I will consider the nicotine replacement therapies available to help you quit.