Ways to Quit!
Another Excellent "Quit Smoking" Link: Free Quitting Guides,
Quitting Calendars, Quitting Tools, Support Groups, Chats... |
www.quitnet.org |
| There are a number of ways to go about quitting smoking. It can be done on your own either suddenly ("cold turkey") or more gradually. Most people have some withdrawal symptoms while they are quitting smoking. These most commonly include a strong craving for tobacco, irritability/crabbiness, anxiety/nervousness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, lightheadedness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and sometimes diarrhea or other intestinal symptoms. It’s common to cough more when first quitting because the lungs are able to bring up secretions more easily than they were before. |
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| Some doctors will prescribe or recommend nicotine replacement for pregnant women who are quitting smoking. This is usually in the form or nicotine gum (Nicorette) or nicotine patches (Nicoderm, Habitrol, other brands). Although the safety has not been fully evaluated in pregnancy it is thought that the benefit of quitting smoking greatly outweighs any risks of these medicines. |
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| The best way to successfully quit is to join a smoking cessation class in your community. There are a number of advantages to being in a class. These courses are run by people who are experienced with the difficulties of quitting smoking and can help to plan a response when one gets in difficult situations (such as running into friends who still smoke) or has cravings or withdrawal symptoms. They are also in a group setting, which provides the support of others who are going through the same process and understand the challenges. On the following page is a list of programs in Austin. Most programs are free of charge or charge a small fee. |
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