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Last Updated: Aug 21, 2023
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Tobacco Cessation - 5 Effective Ways To Manage It!

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Dr. Rahul MathurPsychiatrist • 13 Years Exp.MBBS, MD - Psychiatry, Senior Resident Psychiatrist
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Tobacco Cessation or the practice of quitting smoking requires dedication, determination, and planning. Tobacco smoking is a bad habit that one might have got from adolescence but as the person grows up, he/she finds it difficult to maintain good health due to this reason. That is why it is important to adopt some of the ways that can help to quit smoking.

Let us look at some of these ways:

1. Cold Turkey

This is one of the most effective ways to quit tobacco smoking, but it also is one of the most difficult ways for the purpose. Cold turkey needs sheer willpower because this practice requires a person to quit smoking all of a sudden. The practice of quitting smoking is done without any outside help, therapy or medication.

2. Nicotine Substitutions

This is also a very effective method to quit smoking. Tobacco smoking is the process where a person pumps nicotine in the blood through smoke. As soon as one stops getting that nicotine hit, the person starts to get agitated and starts smoking again. What if one could substitute that way of nicotine consumption? That would be better. So, nicotine patches and nicotine gums are one of those mediums through which a person gets nicotine in blood without the need of smoking.

3. Bupropion

The human brain gets dependent on nicotine over time, which also means that the mind is dependent on the nicotine to be happy (Dopamine secretion). As soon as people withdraw themselves from nicotine, the mind starts to have mood alterations and the person may also feel depressed. Bupropion is an antidepressant that helps a smoker quit smoking without being depressed and agitated. Bupropion also reduces the pleasure and other symptoms the smoker gets from tobacco smoking.

4. Varenicline

This is also one of the widely used antidepressants that help tobacco smokers manage their mood during withdrawal. The varenicline reduces the pleasing effect that a person gets from smoking. Though varenicline is quite effective, it is discontinued in some countries because of its side effects like nausea and fatigue.

5. Therapy

This is also one of the most helpful methods to quit smoking. Smokers usually have certain triggers that urge them to smoke. The therapist talks about those particular triggers and helps a person manage those triggers through different activities like talking therapy and mind exercises. Going to a therapist is one of the smartest decisions one can take as the first step to tobacco cessation.

Quitting smoking isn’t an easy step. However, through systematic planning and seeking help, it can be managed. Tobacco cessation takes time, but once people achieve their goal, they will feel healthy and happy like never before.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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