With the new year just days away, many smokers are resolving to kick the habit.
New Year’s Day is the single most popular quit date of the year, says Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends at the American Cancer Society. Many others pick days with special significance to them, such as an anniversary or a child’s birthday.
While giving up smoking is a notoriously difficult challenge, doctors say they know more than ever about what works and what doesn’t. And people have more choices today than ever about how to develop a “quit plan” that works, Glynn says. Developing a plan is essential, he says, given the strength of nicotine addiction.
Some choices are easy.
Strategies to skip include acupuncture and hypnosis, which have never been shown to help people quit smoking, Glynn says.
Another bad idea? Trying to quit on your own, without a plan, support, counseling or medication, says Bill Blatt, director of tobacco programs at the American Lung Association.
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