Smoking is an addiction that is very difficult to overcome. While some may be able to quit by themselves without any help, most people require some sort of assistance in some form or the other. There are different kinds of programs that have been designed to help people quit and stay quit. Some of these are more effective than others for a number of reasons like their flexible and adaptable nature, intensive research while designing the program and many more.
Top 5 effective stop smoking programs
These have proven to be the most preferred amongst the existing cessation programs because of their effectiveness, simple techniques and adaptability to individual needs.
Nicotine replacement therapy: This is one of the most popular programs that people opt for, many a time because they are not aware of the other options available. This program is effective in curbing cravings with the help of nicotine patches and gums, these replacement products are addictive if used for very long. This is why users have to be very careful of getting into another addiction while getting out of the habit of smoking.
Herbal products for quitting smoking: This is a very safe alternative as it makes use of herbs and herbal supplements to help people quit their puffing habit. Some herbs have the same effect on the body as nicotine without being addictive which are very useful while dealing with cravings and withdrawal. These herbs also help the body deal with other related health issues like quitters’ flu and irritability.
Quitting cold turkey: This is when the smoker decides to quit altogether at one go. In this, the withdrawal symptoms and cravings may be a bit strong, but do not last for long as the body and brain get accustomed to the absence of tobacco and smoke in the system. This, however, may require some planning so that you can decide on a date for quitting and clear you home, workspace, cars and other areas of cigarettes and other accessories like lighters and matches to avoid relapses and temptation.
Gradually cutting down and quitting: This is preferred by more people as compared to quitting cold turkey. The simple reason being that most people cannot take the sudden absence of smoke and nicotine and may react badly to it. This method, they believe, is smoother and more gentle on their system. The one thing to pay attention to here is that you should not keep delaying quitting completely and should quit latest by the second week after you start cutting down.
Alternative cures to cessation: There are some other methods which, though not as popular as the above ones, are still used by some for their effectiveness and safety. Hypnotherapy programs, behavior therapy, acupuncture and vaccination against nicotine are some such methods. Of these hypnotherapy and acupuncture are now gaining more and more popularity and acceptance as being safe and effective techniques to quit.
These are just some of the many existing programs that can be useful in smoking cessation.
