Frequently Asked Questions About Quitting Smoking
Frequently Asked Questions About Quitting Smoking
Learn new skills and behaviors, and work on managing your stress without smoking.
Consider using a medication to help you quit smoking. The FDA has approved seven drugs to help you quit smoking:
The gum, lozenges, and patches are available at your local pharmacy, or you can ask your doctor to write you a prescription for one of the other medications. The good news is that all seven drugs work in helping people who are motivated to quit.
Many people gain weight when they kick the habit, but it is usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet, stay active, and try not to let weight gain distract you from your main goal of quitting smoking. Some of the medications to help you quit smoking may delay weight gain.
Tell them that you are quitting, and ask them to help you quit. Specifically, ask them not to smoke or leave cigarettes around you.
If you have the urge to smoke a cigarette, talk with someone, go for a walk, drink water, or work on a task. Lower your stress by taking a hot bath, exercising, or reading a book. If you're not active now, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor first, especially if you have any health problems.
When you first try to quit smoking, change your routine. Eat breakfast in a different place, and drink tea instead of coffee. Take a different route to work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Quitting Smoking
In this article
- What's in the cigarettes I smoke?
- Why is quitting smoking so hard?
- Why should I quit smoking cigarettes?
- What are the health risks of smoking cigarettes?
- What is the first thing I need to do once I’ve decided to quit smoking?
- I’ve tried to quit smoking before and it didn’t work. What can I do?
- What steps can I take to help me quit smoking for good?
- How will I feel when I quit smoking? Will I gain weight?
- Some of my friends and family smoke. What should I do when I’m with them?
- What kinds of activities can I do when I feel the urge to smoke a cigarette?
- How can I change my daily routine, which includes smoking a cigarette with my breakfast?
- I like to smoke when I have a drink. Do I have to give up both?
- What should I do if I need more help to quit smoking?
What steps can I take to help me quit smoking for good? continued...
Learn new skills and behaviors, and work on managing your stress without smoking.
Consider using a medication to help you quit smoking. The FDA has approved seven drugs to help you quit smoking:
- Bupropion SR (Zyban) -- Available by prescription.
- Nicotine gum -- Available "over-the-counter," which means you don't need a prescription.
- Nicotine inhaler -- Available by prescription.
- Nicotine nasal spray -- Available by prescription.
- Nicotine patch -- Available by prescription and over-the-counter.
- Nicotine lozenge -- Available over-the-counter.
- Varenicline (Chantix) -- Available by prescription.
The gum, lozenges, and patches are available at your local pharmacy, or you can ask your doctor to write you a prescription for one of the other medications. The good news is that all seven drugs work in helping people who are motivated to quit.
How will I feel when I quit smoking? Will I gain weight?
Many people gain weight when they kick the habit, but it is usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet, stay active, and try not to let weight gain distract you from your main goal of quitting smoking. Some of the medications to help you quit smoking may delay weight gain.
Some of my friends and family smoke. What should I do when I’m with them?
Tell them that you are quitting, and ask them to help you quit. Specifically, ask them not to smoke or leave cigarettes around you.
What kinds of activities can I do when I feel the urge to smoke a cigarette?
If you have the urge to smoke a cigarette, talk with someone, go for a walk, drink water, or work on a task. Lower your stress by taking a hot bath, exercising, or reading a book. If you're not active now, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor first, especially if you have any health problems.
How can I change my daily routine, which includes smoking a cigarette with my breakfast?
When you first try to quit smoking, change your routine. Eat breakfast in a different place, and drink tea instead of coffee. Take a different route to work.
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