Medical Options to Help You Quit Smoking

The decision to quit smoking is often difficult to put into effect, as there are many  side effects you may experience in the process. The occurrence of side effects are actually one of the the main reasons that most people who decide to quit smoking, fail. But once you make the decision to quit, there are a variety of options available to help you through if going cold turkey isn't going to work for you. The advantage of going cold turkey (quitting with no help from any aids) is that within a week, there will be no nicotine left in your bloodstream. However, the side effects can be intense, and this option does not work for everyone.

So if you want some help to quit, what are your options?

*    Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) - this is available in the form of a patch, gum, an inhaler, lozenges, or a nasal spray. NRT works by gradually decreasing your nicotine intake. This will help with the physical withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking. There is a downside to using NRT. All these products contain nicotine, which means that there is always the risk of re-addiction.

*    Nicotine-free aids - your health practitioner can give you several aids that do not contain nicotine, but have been shown to help smokers quit smoking successfully. An example is Zyban, which has been shown to seriously reduce the physical withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. You can also buy Zyban online. Other substitutions include E-Cigarettes and E-Cigars, two unique options that allow smokers to continue smoking, but without all the tar, carbon monoxide, and other carcinogenic substances. And the great thing about these is that you can buy E-Cigarettes and E-Cigars online and they cost less than a pack of real cigarettes! Plus they're a lot neater!

*    Other remedies - hypnosis has been shown to assist people quit smoking, but isn't the solution for everyone. Do some research before you try this option to see if you think it will work for you. Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical practice which uses needles placed in the skin, has also been shown to help smokers quit.

Quit aids are just that - aids. The process also requires your willpower and determination, which will help you quit smoking for good.