FROM a scientific standpoint, nicotine is just as hard, if not harder, to quit than heroin.
According to a Durban resident, Sabelo Mbatha, who has abstained from smoking for over three months now, one of the biggest challenges a smoker can face in the early days of quitting is regular cravings. Mbatha, who has smoked cigarettes for over 28 years, is sharing tips that can help the public resist smoking when craving strikes.
Also Read: World No Tobacco Day 2022: How tobacco harms the environment
“Some cravings are your body physically wanting nicotine, but some are also related to your daily routines. Changing your routine can help avoid those triggers that tell your brain it’s time for a smoke,” Mbatha says as the country observes World No Tobacco Day today, May 31.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is: ‘We need food, not tobacco.’ According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the day aims to raise awareness about alternative crop production and marketing opportunities for tobacco farmers and encourages them to grow sustainable and nutritious crops. It also aims to expose the tobacco industry’s efforts to interfere with attempts to substitute tobacco growing with sustainable crops, thereby contributing to the global food crisis.
Mbatha believes that this day should be utilised to educate people about the dangers of smoking and encourage the public to avoid smoking tobacco for the sake of their health. “Those smokers who started their journey of quitting must be supported in many ways. I stopped smoking after experiencing health issues, and the doctor advised me to stop smoking,” said Mbatha.
Also Read: #WorldNoTobaccoDay: ‘Commit to quit,’ says Heart and Stroke Foundation
He said quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health regardless of their age or how long they have been smoking.
The tips that can assist the public to resist smoking when craving strikes shared by Mbatha are as follows:
- Find a reason for quitting smoking: To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. It may be to protect your family from second-hand smoke or lower your chance of getting lung cancer, heart disease or other conditions.
- Consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy: When you stop smoking, nicotine withdrawal may give you headaches, affect your mood or sap your energy. Nicotine Replacement Therapy can curb these urges.
- Learn about prescription pills: Medicines can curb cravings and may also make smoking less satisfying if you do pick up a cigarette. Other drugs can ease withdrawal symptoms, such as depression or problems with concentration.
- Prepare before you go: Ask your doctor about all the methods that will help, such as quit-smoking classes and apps, counselling, medication and hypnosis.
- Avoid alcohol and other triggers: When you drink alcohol, it’s harder to stick to your no-smoking goal. So try to limit alcohol when you first quit. Likewise, if you often smoke when you drink coffee, switch to tea for a few weeks.
- Be active: Being active can curb nicotine cravings and ease some withdrawal symptoms. When you want to reach for a cigarette, put on your inline skates or jogging shoes instead, and even mild exercise helps, such as walking your dog or pulling weeds in the garden.
- Eat fruits and vegetables: Try to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. These are good for your whole body as you quit smoking.
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