FitSugar

DrSugar Answers: How Can I Cut the Nicotine Habit?

DrSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I have been smoking ever since college, which I know is dumb, but I just haven't been able to cut the habit. I started smoking only at parties, but now I'm at about a half pack a day for the last few years. I'm totally healthy otherwise. I go to the gym three or four times a week and try to eat healthy. What do you recommend for quitting cigarettes?
- Getting Off the Butts

To see what the doctor has to say about ditching this unhealthy habit, read more.

Firstly, I applaud your desire to quit and wish you luck in your journey. There is good news and bad news when it comes to quitting cigarettes. The good news is that there is an abundance of resources, websites, help lines, medications, and doctors who are there to help you quit if you need it. The bad news is that quitting cigarettes is very hard and often takes multiple attempts because relapse is common. If you succeed in quitting, you will be greatly improving the future of your health. Smoking accounts for almost 90 percent of lung cancer deaths. It can also lead to heart disease, lung disease, and vascular disease or blockage of blood vessels.

Some people are able to stop smoking "cold turkey" without the use of any aids, but this is a tough task and often results in failure. I think that online resources, such as QuitNet, can be especially helpful in terms of getting more information and hearing about other people’s experiences.

Many people successfully quit with the help of nicotine replacement therapy to curb the initial cravings. Nicotine gum is available over the counter, while nicotine patches require a prescription. Though I recommend trying nonprescription methods first, there are also two prescription medications that have helped thousands of people quit: Zyban and Chantix. Zyban (Wellbutrin) is a type of antidepressant that cuts the craving for nicotine during the quitting process, while the newer Chantix is a nicotine-receptor activator that essentially tricks the brain into thinking there is nicotine in the system.

I suggest setting a quit date, formulating a plan for how to cope with the cravings (gum, medication, exercise, etc.), and trying to keep your mind on other things. Come up with a new routine at times when you used to light up. You should also check out these seven tips for quitting smoking, which offer great practical tips. Also remember that doctors love to hear that their patients are trying to quit and are always there to help. Good luck!

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

7 Tips For Quitting Smoking

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Keeping your heart in tip-top shape is just one of many reasons to quit smoking. So in honor of February's Heart Health Month, I'm offering some timeless tips for kicking the habit. Whether you're a full-time smoker or just an occasional one, smoking is wreaking havoc on your health, so here are some strategies to help you stop for good.

Exercise more. Getting moving is a great way to remind yourself why you shouldn't smoke. Exercise can reduce your stress and help you relax far better than cigarettes. Even just five minutes of walking can help fend off urges.
Go over the counter. Stop-smoking aids like gum, lozenges, and patches really do help ease withdrawal symptoms. Even if you want to go cold turkey, it might help to have some gum on hand for the times when you're especially irritable or antsy.
Chew away your cravings. Regular gum can also be effective at battling cravings. Keeping your mouth busy will help keep your mind off smoking.

To see the rest, read more.

Turn to healthy snacks. Similarly, make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks on hand. Nibbling on celery, rice cakes, pistachios, and other low-cal treats will occupy your mouth and your hands.
Get rid of the triggers. Identify the things that make you want to smoke and, if possible, eliminate them from your life, at least temporarily. If you identify smoking with drinking alcohol or coffee, it might help to ditch those habits for a little while.
Polish your pearly whites. Many women I know get manicures to kick nail-biting habits, so why not try a similar tactic? Paying for a professional tooth-whitening procedure could encourage you not to pick up the habit again.
Find other ways to relax. If you often turn to smoking when you're stressed, then replace the cigarette with another relaxation technique, whether it's meditation, deep breathing, or a long bath.

Have any of these tricks worked for you? Share your strategies below.
Source

Quitting Smoking? Timing Might Be Key

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0700

For women, the ebb and flow of monthly hormones impacts so many seemingly unrelated things, quitting smoking among them. New research from the University of Minnesota suggests that successfully quitting smoking might be related to the menstrual cycle. Research found that women who stop smoking during the second half of their cycle, after ovulating, were more likely to stick to their guns and not relapse back into smoking. The researchers do not know why women's resolve seems stronger post ovulation but guess the hormone differences during two menstrual phases might affect the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms felt by the quitters.

Looking to quit? Here are some tips to help you quit.

Source

Another Reason Not to Smoke: Quitting Is Hard

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:30:00 -0800

Even though we like to scoff at celebrities and say they have everything so much easier than we do, quitting smoking is rough no matter who you are. Katherine Heigl, well-known as a heavy smoker, recently talked to the Washington Post about her troubles with quitting. And guess what? It's not easy even for her. Here are highlights:

"It's so stupid. I started when I was like 22 or 23, and I had my first cigarette at a bar one night, and I was like mmm. I'll try this. I can have just one. I am not gonna get addicted. Then you start bumming. I'm bumming. I don't buy my own packs. I'm not addicted."

"Then you go through something that is hard or difficult or stressful and you buy your first pack and it's all over, and now it's all about how you're going to quit," she says. "I've tried everything."

"I've tried Wellbutrin," a drug also used to treat depression, "which made me really happy while I smoked. Tried the patch. Tried gum. I hate the gum. It burns my mouth. I think I have to quit the old-fashioned way."

So there you have it. Obviously it's best not even to start in the first place, but if you're struggling with quitting, you're certainly not alone. Here's hoping that Katherine, and all smokers, finally nip it in the bud.

Pacific Coast News

Another Reason to Quit Smoking: Hearing Problems

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0800

Maybe you or someone close to you is thinking of quitting smoking. All I can say is: Go for it! Quitting smoking is a win-win situation; it puts more money in your pocket and more air in your lungs. Plus, it is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. No joke!

It turns out that there is yet another reason to give up smokes: It could affect your hearing. A recent study performed by Yale University found that teenagers who smoked, or who were exposed to smoke, had difficulty focusing and interpreting sounds amid other distractions. Brain scans show alterations in brain matter responsible for transmitting messages, so researchers believe that nicotine is responsible for creating changes in the structure of the brain matter.

If you are still looking for motivation, check out all these reasons to quit smoking. The list will surely make you think twice the next time you light up.

Source

Hypnotherapy to Quit Smoking

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:15:00 -0700

You might have heard that Lily Allen lost weight using hypnotherapy but have you heard the same technique works for giving up smokes too?

A recent study found that to quit smoking and stay smoke free, hypnotherapy is more effective than going cold turkey or just using the nicotine patches or nicotine gum. Free hypnotherapy was offered to both heart and lung patients after hospitalization, and 50% of the patients using hypnotherapy alone, or with nicotine replacement therapies, stayed smoke free. An interesting aside: a considerably higher percentage of heart patients stayed smoke free compared to lung patients.

If you have had trouble quitting smoking in the past, getting hypnotized could be the answer. If you do smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.

I am curious if any of you have tried hypnotherapy for smoking, or dieting? Let me know in the comments section below.

Source

Tips for Staying Smoke Free: Dealing with the Cravings

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:30:00 -0700

For all of you out there that have recently quit smoking (like Sugar user smarler) - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Although life without nicotine might seem challenging; you are on your way to better health for life. But how to deal with those incessant cravings? Here are some tips to help:

Exercise: C'mon this is FitSugar; you had to know I'd be writing that one first. It is true though, exercising for at least 5 minutes can curb the craving. So take a vigorous walk around the block instead of picking up the lighter. Or why not try some push-ups? I think exercising is a great way to deal with the cravings and breathing hard will help remind you of why you quit and you will start to see that exercising becomes easier the farther you get from your quit date.
Deep Breathing: Nothing clears the mind and celebrates your healing lungs as much as a deep breath. It will calm and relax you. While breathing think of all the reasons you quit - a little reaffirmation.
Healthy Snacking: Surround yourself with healthy snacks. Carrot sticks and celery. Apples or cherries. Sunflower seeds or pistachios still in their shells are a lot of work. The act of shelling them will take your mind off your craving and satisfy your oral fixation.
Drink Water: You know I love water, but staying hydrated can really help with the cravings. Drinking water will help flush the toxins out of your body.
Break your Routine: A lot of cravings are associated with your daily patterns, routines and rituals. To avoid these triggers mix up your day a bit.
Keep your Hands Busy: Idle hands like to pick up cigarettes. Try knitting, starting a jigsaw puzzle or teaching yourself some card tricks.

I sure do hope these help.

Quit Smoking With a Hand Gel

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:00:00 -0800

A new hand gel is starting to appear on drugstore shelves promising to satisfy users' tobacco cravings for up to four hours.

Walgreens is now stocking its more than 5,500 stores with packets of Nicogel ($5.99 for a box of 10 doses) which is a quick-evaporating gel made with tobacco extracts. Each serving of Nicogel contains about a tenth of the tobacco you'll find in a typical cigarette.

This is great for people trying to quit smoking but I wonder if it will lead to a world of newly addicted hand gel users?

Looking to Quit, Just Cut Back

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Trying to quit smoking but cold turkey is just not working for you? Remember how Sarah Jessica Parker's character had such a hard time quitting cold turkey on Sex and the City?

New research from the University of Vermont shows that simply cutting back on smoking may lead to unexpected quitting.

Researchers found that:

In 16 of the 19 studies reviewed, smoking reduction in people who did not want to quit led to an increase in the percentage of them who did quit. In most of the studies, smoking reduction was accompanied by the use of nicotine replacement products.

Interestingly enough, cutting back is an acceptable method of quitting in Europe, but has not been acceptable in the United States until now. So if you smoke, and haven't been able to quit, try cutting back, it could work for you. The health benefits of quitting are amazing!

Fit's Tip: If you smoke, you should know that cutting back does not reduce smoking-related health risks -- and cutting back should only be a step toward quitting.

THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:00:00 -0800

TODAY is the GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT sponsored by the American Cancer Society. So if you are trying to quit smoking - today is the day. If you know someone who is trying to quit, you can be supportive and send them the link.

Looking for a little motivation in kicking your habit? Here are a few health reasons:

You will significantly lower your chances of developing lung cancer (the number 1 cancer killer of both men and women), heart disease, stroke and other forms of cancer.
Your lungs will regain normal function - which reduces the risk of infection and makes breathing easier. And you know that Fit is way into breathing.
Your circulation will improve - which means you heal from injuries more quickly and this is great for every single inch of your body.

Looking for more reasons? Think of all the money you will save and your clothes won't smell like smoke. Smoking makes your breath stinky, makes your skin wrinkle more, and yellows your teeth (see above).

Let us know if you're trying - we're here to support you and so is the American Cancer Society's Quitline (1-800-ACS-2345). And, of course, GOOD LUCK!!!