Protect yourself and others this flu season

More people in the United States are addicted to nicotine than any other drug, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With research suggesting nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine and alcohol, it’s not surprising people often struggle with quitting tobacco products.

If you’re ready to quit for good — and you should be — here are a few things you can expect along your road to recovery:

Withdrawals

You may feel irritable, angry or anxious. In addition to craving tobacco, you’ll also feel hungrier than usual. Most people who quit tobacco also gain weight. The stress of gaining weight leads some to return to their tobacco habit.

Immediate health benefits

Within half an hour of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. By the end of the day, the carbon monoxide in your blood declines to normal levels. Within weeks, your blood circulation and lung function improve. Five years after quitting, your chance of a stroke decreases significantly. By 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease is equivalent to a nonsmoker’s.

More money in your wallet

Most cigarette packs cost nearly $10 and chewing tobacco costs about $5 per tin. People with a daily chewing tobacco habit can spend up to $1,000 a year and those who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day could spend more than $3,000 a year.

Ways to quit

You’ve tried quitting cold turkey and those nicotine patches didn’t work as they should, here are other ways to quit:

Download the “2MorrowQuit” app on your smartphone

This innovative app has been proven in clinical trials to help smokers quit successfully through behavioral techniques and a coaching program. The app includes a customized cessation program, 14 core lessons, more than 30 on-demand tips, exercises and tools to help you quit.

Call (800) QUIT-NOW (784-8669)

Sometimes a little help over the phone goes a long way. This free telephone-based support service connects you with experienced coaches to help you manage your cravings and customize a cessation program. In some cases, they can also provide free or discounted medications.