The intensity of nicotine cravings is a key reason quitting smoking is so difficult. If you’re committed to stopping smoking for good but feel overwhelmed by cravings, Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep can help.
There are strategies available to help you ease cravings and other nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Our pulmonary specialists Himanshu Chandarana, MD, and Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, help you find the appropriate smoking cessation resources so you can kick the habit forever.
We also specialize in preventive screenings for smoking-related lung diseases, including emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
Smoking even a few cigarettes a day significantly increases your risk of serious health consequences. When you stop smoking, the benefits start right away.
Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your blood pressure drops and your heart rate decreases. Within the first 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels in your body return to normal.
Many aspects of your health, including blood circulation, lung function, and respiratory health, improve in the weeks and months after you quit smoking,
Quitting smoking now also cuts your risk of cancer and other lung diseases and a variety of chronic diseases, including:
Our smoking cessation program provides tools you can incorporate into your routine to optimize your health. You can look forward to more energy, less anxiety, and freedom from the limitations of a nicotine addiction.
Planning helps the process of quitting smoking feel less overwhelming. Our pulmonary specialists work with you to establish a quit date and the goals you want to achieve.
They also recommend strategies to reduce nicotine cravings, such as:
Breathing exercises support relaxation throughout the body and ease the anxious feelings nicotine withdrawal can cause. You can do breathing techniques anytime, anywhere to feel calmer.
Try this one: Take a deep breath through your nose. Hold it for five seconds before enjoying a long, slow exhale from your mouth. Repeat a few times until you feel more relaxed.
Too often, people try to replace cigarettes with junk food to fight cravings. That can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
Keep healthy snacks like raw vegetables and nuts on hand to work through cravings. You can drink a glass of water or chew sugarless gum until cravings pass.
If you rely on cigarettes to manage anxiety or stress, try substituting a walk around the neighborhood when you feel overwhelmed.
Daily movement is good for cardiovascular health and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Regular walks also reduce the restlessness you might feel in the early stages of quitting smoking.
Calm cravings by brushing and flossing your teeth, especially after meals, when nicotine cravings can be strongest. Good oral hygiene is also important for minimizing smoking-related issues like bad breath, tooth loss, and gum disease.
Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep offers oral medications to make nicotine cravings more manageable. We may also recommend nicotine replacement patches or gum to help you quit successfully.
These resources exist to support your quit journey, so don’t feel guilty or ashamed about using them to reach your goals.
Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, today to schedule a smoking cessation appointment.
