Knowledge about the harm of smoking, as a rule, is limited to the worn out phrase about the fact that a drop of nicotine kills a horse, and the fear of dying from cancer. The latter is not without substantial grounds: cigarette smoke contains about three thousand of the known elements, sixteen of which may become the cause of the cancerous growth. Nicotine in its turn causes very strong dependence. Even after just a few weeks from the moment they started smoking, the majority of people notice that a cigarette has become an almost necessary condition for maintaining a good state of being. In the case of no more nicotine being supplied, a smoker develops the symptoms of abstinence (physical and psychological disorders), which go away or get alleviated after taking another "dose".

Consistent smoking is one of the main causes of the blood-vessel diseases. Under the influence of nicotine the blood vessels contract and certain changes take place in their walls, which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The vessel constriction, which happens as a result of the excessive overgrowth of their internal wall, leads to certain areas of the heart, the lower extremities foremost, to not get enough blood supply, which ultimately may lead to gangrene, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies. The smoker's heart itself literally works at full stretch: each cigarette speeds up the heartbeat by 18-20 beats per minute, and the number of heart contractions per day increases by15-20 thousand.

A very common consequence of consistent nicotine poisoning is the so-called smoker's bronchitis, which eventually may lead to the development of lung emphysema, a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs when the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed, causing primarily the shortness of breath. In addition, people who smoke are more frequently exposed to such illnesses like conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, angina, blood stroke, ulcer, cancer, and so on.

As a result of smoking for a long time you may lose your sense of taste and ability to distinguish smells, as well as develop weakening of sight, worsening of your face skin condition, destruction of your teeth and gums. Women who smoke are at risk of suffering irregular menstrual cycle and infertility.

There are a number of various methods developed to help quit smoking. Doctors recommend combining several methods to increase their effect. If a person is not lacking in willpower and has set his or her mind to quit smoking, then usually they don’t even need medical intervention. However, it is beyond some people’s power to kick this habit. In that case one needs to turn for help to a specialist or undergo a medical treatment. Below is the list of the most frequently used methods.

Psychotherapy. First step is to determine whether the smoker even wants to quit smoking or wants to start wanting to quit smoking. Very often unsuccessful attempts of treatment happen because a person does not have a conscious desire to quit. A psychotherapist needs to determine whether it's the case and figure out the stage that the smoker is in. Psychotherapy or other psychological methods should be used to lead the smoker to the point of having a desire to quit smoking.

Hypnosis. There are two known hypnosis techniques, which can be used separately or in combination with each other. One of the methods involves a therapist putting a patient in a state of deep relaxation and the statement that smoking is harmful and unpleasant for the body is input into the unconsciousness. In case of the session being successful after coming back from the deep relaxation state the smoker does not feel any craving for smoking. It is suggested to have 3 or 4 sessions of such hypnotherapy. The success in this case is only 10-30%. The second method involves a doctor putting a patient into a hypnotic state, during which the hypnotherapist communicates with the unconscious part of the person's mind, where the harmful habit appears and strengthens so to speak. Very often being introduced to smoking takes place at an age when being part of a group requires smoking. Nicotine creates a feeling of certain wellbeing, thus disguising sadness, guilt or fear, which are driven into unconsciousness and may remain unnoticed with medical treatment. Therefore it is necessary to determine the presence of this psychological impact, which should be coped with before the person is separated from a cigarette.

Treatments with nicotine substitutes. There is a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds called alkaloids, which include lobeline and cytisine. Lobeline in its pure form it is a white amorphous powder which is freely soluble in water. It has been used as a smoking cessation aid and may have application in the treatment of other drug addictions such as to amphetamines, cocaine, or alcohol. Cytisine pharmacologically exhibits similar effects to nicotine due to structural similarity of the two molecules. Although in large doses it can interfere with respiration and become fatal. Both of these alkaloids have a similar affect on the nervous system and the metabolism as nicotine does.

Simultaneously the smoker loses the taste for cigarettes. At the same time once you stop smoking, your body starts experiencing the lack of some useful compounds that previously were absorbed with cigarette smoke. There are special supplements you can take to make up for the deficit of this vital substance.

Diet. There is a special diet developed especially to remove toxic substances from the body and help get rid of nicotine that affects nervous system and has accumulated in fat layers. The quicker the nicotine is removed from the body, the quicker the deficit of certain substances contained in tobacco and actively used by our body decreases.

Physical exercises. It is very important to introduce a special physical exercise program to control breathing and increase oxygen intake. Smoking reduces the lung capacity and oxygen consumption, which if increased improves the person's overall state of health. Such exercise programs like qigong (Chinese systems of physical and mental training for health, martial arts and self-enlightenment), tai chi (an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits), yoga and main exercises of aerobics are the most beneficial.

Breathing exercises. Yoga and qigong are the most recognized methods to restore the lung and blood flow function. These techniques are very useful to charge up the body with oxygen.

Massage. Massage, especially the manual lymph-drainage and shiatsu, contribute to drawing nicotine out of the tissues, which in turn helps restore the body's overall function.

Acupuncture. Combined with other methods, acupuncture can prove to be extremely valuable when it comes to breaking the addiction. Even when used by itself, this method provides good results. Acupuncture may be of general nature or auricular (inserting and manipulating needles into active points of the ear).

Nicotine-replenishing substitutes. Nicotine patch, chewing gum or implants help in cases when a smoker is not receptive to other methods, but you shouldn’t forget that when you use them, nicotine continues to be supplied to your body affecting the nervous system and not releasing from the addiction. If a patient is not freed from the reason that caused the addiction then we are merely talking about replacing one compound with another. As soon as the affect of the substitute is over, the cigarette addiction comes back since it has not been cured.

Now that you familiarized yourself with the most effective methods to quit smoking, we hope you choose one for yourself and moreover we hope you actually implement it. We hope it works and so does your body!