22 articles
What the evidence says about asking friends, family and partners for support during a quit attempt, why general support programs have not raised quit rates, and how to make specific requests for check-ins, distractions and encouragement.
A comparison of the nicotine patch, gum and lozenge, with Cochrane quit rates, side effects and the specific questions to ask a pharmacist or doctor before choosing. No individualized dosing advice.
How to choose a quit smoking date and what to do in the week before it, with the evidence on planned vs. unplanned attempts, abrupt vs. gradual quitting, starting NRT before quit day, and quitline support.
A review of relapse after quitting smoking, including when it typically occurs, which factors predict it, whether a slip means full relapse, and how to use a relapse to improve the next attempt.
A review of the health risks of secondhand smoke exposure, including cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and respiratory effects in children, based on Surgeon General reports and meta-analysis data.
A review of the evidence on smoking during pregnancy, including specific risks to the fetus, which cessation methods are recommended, the evidence for NRT in pregnancy, and why quitting at any point during pregnancy provides benefit.
A review of post-cessation weight gain, including average amounts from meta-analysis data, the metabolic and behavioral causes, which cessation medications may limit it, and why it does not offset the health benefits of quitting.
A guide to nicotine patch dosing for smoking cessation, covering which strength to start on, how long to use each step, the evidence on extended use, and common dosing mistakes.
A review of the evidence on quitting smoking cold turkey, including real success rates, how unassisted quitting compares to NRT and medication, and why most people still try it first.
A review of cytisine for smoking cessation, including trial data from CESSATE and other studies, how it compares to varenicline and NRT, why it is not available in the US, and its potential as a low-cost cessation option.
A review of how smoking affects surgical outcomes, including wound healing, infection rates, anesthesia risks, and how much quitting time before surgery is enough to reduce risk.
A timeline of what happens after quitting smoking, from the first 20 minutes to 15 years, based on clinical evidence for cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer risk recovery.
A review of the evidence for combining nicotine patch with gum or lozenge, including Cochrane data, how it compares to single NRT and varenicline, and why most people still buy only one NRT form.
A comparison of nicotine lozenge and nicotine gum for smoking cessation, covering quit rates, ease of use, side effects, and which one works better for different smokers.
A review of bupropion for smoking cessation, including quit rates from Cochrane data, how it compares to NRT and varenicline, side effects, seizure risk context, and its role for smokers with depression.
A review of the clinical evidence for Allen Carr's Easyway method, what it does well, where the trial evidence is thin, and how it compares to methods with larger evidence bases.
A review of the evidence for smoking cessation in COPD, including the Lung Health Study findings, which quit methods are recommended, and why quitting changes the disease trajectory.
A week-by-week breakdown of nicotine withdrawal duration, covering when symptoms peak, when they ease, and what the long-term craving pattern looks like.
A detailed guide to nicotine withdrawal symptoms, their timeline, which ones are most likely to cause relapse, and what the evidence says about managing them.
A review of the varenicline evidence for smoking cessation, including quit rates, the revised safety profile, side effects and how it compares to NRT and bupropion.
A review of the clinical evidence for nicotine gum, including quit rates, correct technique, common mistakes and how it compares to the patch and other cessation methods.
A plain-language review of the nicotine patch evidence, covering quit rates, dosing schedules, side effects and how it compares to other cessation methods.