What is the one thing you could do to change your health for the better? Experts agree that if you smoke, you should stop smoking. But what if you get your nicotine another way? One reader shared this story:
How to Quit Chewing Tobacco:
Q. I chewed tobacco for 35 years, starting at age 25 when I quit smoking. My dentist back then, who was a smoker himself, cautioned that since chewing tobacco caused no smoke nor ash and needed no free hand, it could become an all-consuming habit. Did it ever!
I tried several different ways to quit, to no avail. Then in 2013 I tried nicotine gum.
A co-worker said he’d quit smoking 20 years ago and still chewed that gum. I tried it too and it worked for me.
My dentist says my gums look as good as anyone’s. And yes, I’m still chewing that gum.
Nicotine Gum to Get Away from Tobacco:
A. We are delighted to learn that you were able to overcome your tobacco habit with nicotine gum. We have heard from many people that this approach is a good way to stop smoking, though giving up the nicotine gum can become challenging in itself.
This reader came up with a gradual withdrawal process that worked for her:
“I stopped smoking using nicotine gum. After a month on it, I substituted a regular piece of gum for every second piece and then started to cut the nicotine gum in half. It didn’t take me long to break away from it.”
There are many ways to stop smoking. Our late friend, Tom Ferguson, MD, wrote a book based on what smokers told him they’d like while they were considering quitting: The No-Nag, No-Guilt, Do-It-Your-Own Way Guide to Quitting Smoking.
Another Reader’s Story:
Queen in Dallas, TX, shared this account on our website:
“I quit smoking 18 years ago. The only thing that was different that time from other attempts was that I REALLY wanted to quit. No one nagged, no one tried to guilt me, it was my time. I wish it had been sooner than later, but I was finally successful. Dr. Tom Ferguson’s book sounds like a good read; if I was trying to quit now, I’d read it, and even if it helps just a handful of people, it was worth his time and research to write it.
“I treated my quitting journey as a project. I used the nicotine patch, had a supportive family, and kept a brief day-by-day journal – I can’t overemphasize the benefits of a daily journal. I Just used a big, day by day wall calendar. For those who have a Faith tradition, I’ll mention that sometimes I was on my knees asking for help. If you’re quitting, you’ll need all the help you can get.
“Whatever you do, the benefits will be worth the unpleasantness many times over. You don’t have to tell the whole world what you’re doing, just do it. They’ll notice. Your hair and clothes won’t smell, your complexion will improve, and much more. My sincere best wishes for your quitting project.”
