Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the best things you can do for your health
If you are addicted to vaping, an activity that stimulates smoking, you need to quit as soon as possible. According to statistics, not only is it bad for your heart and lungs, but it can also lead to life-threatening conditions like cancer. However, if you have thought about trying to kick a smoking habit, you are not alone. Nearly 7 of 10 smokers say they want to stop.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Nearly one-third of deaths from heart disease are the result of smoking and secondhand smoke. According to studies, vapes or e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking more effectively than other nicotine replacements like patches, gums, or lozenges. A few tips and strategies that can help you quit include:
Varenicline
According to experts, varenicline—a pill or nasal spray commonly used to help people quit smoking—is an effective strategy that works by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain, thus reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
While nicotine makes smoking feel good, varenicline blocks this good feeling and can help prevent cravings to smoke vapes or cigarettes.
Nicotine replacement therapy
NRT, or nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, sprays, and inhalers—are among the most helpful and successful ways to quit smoking, especially if you are abstaining from tobacco. These products also provide nicotine at a consistent dose, so you avoid the nicotine rush you get from vaping while still getting relief from withdrawal symptoms.
Some vaping products deliver more nicotine than cigarettes, so you may need to begin NRT at a higher dosage than if you smoked traditional cigarettes.
Identify the triggers
According to experts, triggers can be physical, social, emotional, or a mix of all of these. They also vary from person to person and so it is important to understand these to help you develop a strategy to avoid or deal with such scenarios.
If your friends vape, you might have a harder time quitting if you spend a lot of time with them, but do not consider how you will resist the temptation to vape with them.
Recognizing emotions that trigger vaping urges can help you take more productive steps to manage those emotions, like talking with loved ones or journaling about them.
Have a withdrawal strategy
Once you quit vaping, the first few days or even weeks will be a little rough as you may experience withdrawal symptoms like:
- Mood changes like increased irritability, nervousness, and frustration
- Anxiety and depression
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Sleeplessness
- Frequent headaches
- Trouble focusing
- Increased hunger
Sometimes, you have an extreme urge to vape, but you must try and find ways to get over the urges by:
- Practice deep breathing
- Trying meditation
- Exercising
- Going for a walk
- Playing or solving crossword puzzles
- Eating a healthy and balanced diet
Keep your friends and family in the loop
Even though it may feel awkward, always keep your loved ones in the loop about your plans to quit vaping. According to experts, it is important to have this conversation, though, even if it seems like it might be difficult. Friends and family who know you are quitting will only be encoura that makes a lot of difference. Sharing your decision also opens the door for a conversation about your boundaries.
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