Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 80,000 people die a year because of their smoking habit in the UK. Giving up smoking could give you more energy, reduces stress, and lets you breathe more easily, the NHS added. These are the four best, easy ways to stop smoking, and to boost your overall health.
Use an e-cigarette
One of the best ways to give up smoking is to try using an e-cigarette first, said Public Health England (PHE).
E-cigerettes, or vapes, are devices that let you inhale nicotine vapour, as opposed to smoke.
Thousands have already quit smoking by weening down their cigarette habits using e-cigarettes, said PHE’s Tobacco Control Lead, Martin Dockrell.
“To get the most out of using an e-cigarette, make sure you’re using it as much as you need to and with the right strength of nicotine in your e-liquid,” he said.
“Remember, you won’t get the full benefit from vaping unless you stop smoking cigarettes completely.”
E-cigarettes aren’t completely risk-free, but they’re less harmful than smoking, he added. They could even double your chances of successfully giving up smoking.
Visit a Stop Smoking Service
An expert advisor could help you to give up smoking for good, said Dockrell.
The face-to-face support will provide you with free advice, support and encouragement to quit cigarettes.
People using the service are up to four times more likely to quit smoking successful, than those that try to quit with support.
You can find your local Stop Smoking Service here.
Quick and easy support online
There are a number of free support tools online that aim to help you give up smoking.
Different things work for different people when they’re trying to give up, so it’s about finding the right combination of tools for you.
“There’s a range of free online support available including the Smokefree app, Facebook messenger, daily support emails or text messages,” he said.
“This will help keep you focused wherever you are, at whatever time of the day. You can also call the free Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044 to speak to a trained, expert adviser.”
Smoking medication
There are a range of medications that could help you to stop smoking, including mouth sprays, lozenges, patches and inhalers.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products aim to quench your thirst for nicotine, without the thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke.
“NRT products are most effective when used in combination – an all-day patch together with a fast-acting option such as an inhaler or lozenges to help you deal with any immediate cravings,” said Dockrell.
“Nicotine is the thing in cigarette smoke that gets you hooked but on its own, it is not very harmful.
“You should use a nicotine product for as long as it takes for you to stay smokefree.”
