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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : May 31, 2014 9:49 AM IST
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day.
Anytime is a good time to quit smoking, but if you're looking for extra motivation, why not resolve to give up the bad habit on May 31, which the WHO has declared as World No Tobacco Day? And going cold turkey isn't the only option. Here are five methods to keep in mind for those hoping to become ex-smokers this year:
- Nicotine patches, applied to the skin, provide a continuous source of the drug and are available in different doses, so smokers can dial back their intake progressively. There is also the option of nicotine gum or lozenges based on the same principle. These may be consumed several times per day, but only over a period of less than six months.
- Acupuncture, the traditional Chinese practice, can help to decrease cigarette cravings through the insertion of needles into specific points on the body.
- Herbal cigarettes, which do not contain nicotine but do contain tar, allow smokers to go through the motions of smoking while their body goes through withdrawal from nicotine.
- Hypnosis speaks to the smoker on a subconscious level in an attempt to strengthen his or her resolve to quit and possibly even decrease the desire to smoke.
- E-cigarettes, which replicate the sensations of regular smoking, are an increasingly popular option for those trying to quit. The corresponding e-liquid is available in a variety of flavors and nicotine levels.
It is worth noting that at the current rate of tobacco consumption, the drug is expected to kill 8 million people per year through 2030. The goal of World No Tobacco Day is to draw attention to tobacco-related health risks and to propose effective policies for decreasing usage. This year, the OMS and its partners aim to convince governments to increase taxes on tobacco products by increments that will effectively reduce tobacco consumption. (Read: Why it is easier to quit smoking now than ever before)
What are the myths about quitting smoking?
Smokers often look for excuses to not give up smoking. The fact is, there may be a 100 reasons to quit smoking, but in order to feel good about themselves smokers chose to focus on the 5 valid reasons they might have to continue smoking. Often, these valid reasons are not even true and in this post we'll bust some of the common myths about quitting smoking.
1. Quitting smoking will make me gain weight
A new study has revealed that quitting smoking may not result in a person putting on weight. The study, conducted by University of Otago, followed the progress of about 1000 people born in Dunedin in 1972-1973 and measured their smoking habits and weight regularly from the age of 15 to 38, Stuff.co.nz reported. According to the findings, both male and female quitters were likely to gain about 5 kilograms more than those who carried on smoking, but their weight returned to the same level as those who had never smoked.
The study also found that being a smoker did not prevent long-term weight gain, and all the groups in the study put on weight as they aged, regardless of their smoking status. Head researcher Lindsay Robertson said that a previous study had suggested people might gain large amounts of weight after quitting, but these studies were unreliable. The study was published in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal.
2. No one else is getting harmed by my smoking
You might think that all the toxic smoke of the cigarettes is going into your lungs only, but you are wrong. According to some estimates, a waiter working in a smoky bar inhales the same amount of toxic smoke as a smoker who smokes 10 cigarettes a day.Read more myths about quitting smoking.
With inputs from AFP
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