People who have quit smoking are usually quite proud of themselves. And they have a good reason to be. By quitting smoking, they have cut down their risk of having a heart attack, stroke, lung disease, and cancer. They also enjoy their improved ability to taste and smell. Not to mention the money they are saving! There are now more than 43 million Americans who have quit smoking!

How did these former smokers quit smoking? You know that there are many methods that people use to quit smoking. Many of these methods rely on group support as well.

In fact, if you are mainly interested in group support to quit smoking, you'll probably want to look into Nicotine Anonymous. This is a program that operates somewhat like Alcoholic Anonymous. If you live in a city or larger town, there are probably Nicotine Anonymous groups available. You can find them by looking under "Nicotine Anonymous" in the white pages of your phone book.

However, along with group support, most people also use other tools to help them to quit. Acupuncture and hypnosis are two methods that have helped some people.

Nicotine gum and the nicotine patches are also popular methods to help a person quit. These items are now available without a prescription. Both of these products ease the symptoms of withdrawal and reduce the craving for nicotine. The patch is used once per day, and the gum about 10-15 times per day. With both these products, it is extremely important not to smoke when using them. You could get an overdose of nicotine and become very ill. Always use them exactly as directed. Your pharmacist or health care provider can advise you.

No matter what method you use, you can expect to have some withdrawal symptoms. By the end of two weeks without cigarettes, most of your withdrawal symptoms will be gone.
* sleepiness,
* headaches,
* irritability, and
* difficulty concentrating

are all common symptoms. If you remember to get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water you will have an easier time of it. Daily exercise will also help you.

To learn more call the American Lung Association. Look under the white pages in your phone book or call (800) LUNG-USA. Their program "Freedom from Smoking" includes guidebooks, audio and videotapes that you can use alone or with other methods.

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