Smoking affects your health in many ways. For starters, it can lead to lung, mouth and throat cancer to name a few. Not only that, but smoking puts you at higher risk of stroke, heart attack and pneumonia. Cigarettes can also make you more susceptible to viruses and worsen symptoms associated with respiratory conditions. With that said, here are the top effective ways to quit smoking for good:

1. Avoid tempting individuals and situations
It is important to avoid situations and individuals that may tempt you to light up a cigarette. All too often a person will quit smoking; They’ll do great for awhile, but they’ll hang around with people who smoke and then they’ll start smoking again. If you find yourself around people who smoke or a tempting situation, then remove yourself immediately.

2. Use a nicotine patch or nicotine gum
Using a nicotine patch or gum is effective because you’re putting nicotine in your body. Nicotine will decrease symptoms that are typically experienced when people quit smoking. Your urges to smoke will be reduced as a result of having nicotine present in your body. Furthermore, gum and patches don’t contain the harmful chemicals that cigarettes contain, hence why gums and patches are far healthier than cigarettes.

3. Drink water
When the time comes to quit smoking, opt for juice and water. Stay away from soda, alcohol, coffee and tea because such drinks actually make cigarettes taste better. If you stop smoking and you consume those drinks, then you could end up craving cigarettes. You’ll reduce cravings by solely sticking to juice and water.

4. Avoid alcohol
Consuming alcohol increases your urge to smoke. Alcohol is a trigger, therefore you should stop drinking it altogether when you decide to quit smoking. If you don’t want to stop drinking, then you should limit how much alcohol you consume.

5. Stay busy
Staying busy keeps your mind off cravings. When people are relaxing or they aren’t that active, they tend to want a cigarette. Some of the best ways to keep busy include exercising with weights or going for a jog. Other ways include doing yard work, chores around the home and things of that nature.

6. Smoking cessation programs
Smoking cessation programs are programs that smokers can join. These programs help because it gives smokers access to experts who can provide advice on how to quit smoking. Programs can keep people motivated as they refrain from smoking. Not only that, but smokers can learn about what options they have to help them finally kick the habit.