Quitting snus
Is it starting to feel unnecessary and a bit of a bother to go and buy snus every day? Have you started thinking about how you can improve your health? Are you tired of being addicted to nicotine? These thoughts are good. It means that you have taken the first step towards quitting snus. Taking the leap and quitting snus is one of the best things you can do for your body. Tobacco is harmful, after all, and something you neither are in need of nor benefit from.
With a little willpower, perseverance and some savvy strategies, it is possible to become snus-free. Here you can read about some important things to consider, what happens in your body when you become nicotine-free and handy tips that facilitate your journey towards a nicotine-free life.
Long list of tips!
There are different ways of quitting snus. Everyone is different and has different methods. For some, only pure willpower works – to quit cold turkey and then hang in there through the withdrawal symptoms. For others, a gradual phasing out works best. The vast majority usually need some form of support to succeed.
- Set a date for quitting snus!
The more planning and preparation you do to quit snus, the more likely you are to be successful. Quitting cold turkey can be difficult and withdrawal symptoms are likely to become overwhelming if you haven’t prepared yourself mentally. Instead, set a date a few weeks ahead and use the time to say goodbye to snus and prepare yourself to quit.
- Exercise!
Snus-user or not – working out and keeping physically fit is always going to be a cornerstone of good health. When you experience withdrawal symptoms, training can be particularly beneficial. It helps to clear your head and release feel-good chemicals in your brain, both of which can be much needed during a period of stress!
- Healthy eating
A balanced and healthy diet keeps your blood sugar level and your mood stable. It helps when you are battling withdrawal symptoms.
All the benefits
Let’s start by turning the question around – what are the benefits of snus? The answer is short: none. The benefits of quitting, however, constitute a solid list.
Tobacco is harmful and it contains toxins that are bad for your body.
Quitting snus means:
- Improved health – when you quit snus, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. Same thing goes with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Quitting snus could potentially mean that you are actually prolonging your life.
- Improved finances – snus is not only bad for your health, it also comes with a massive price tag. It's mad, really – you pay a fortune to hurt yourself!
Some quick math shows quite clearly how much you spend on snus. Currently, a tin usually costs between 40 and 50 SEK (£3.50-4.40). Many snus-users go through one tin a day, which adds up to about 15 to 20,000 SEK (£1300-1750) a year! That's a hefty sum that would probably be better spent on other things!
- Nicer smile – the snus under your lip damages both the gums and the enamel of the teeth, staining them various shades of discolouration.
Side effects of quitting snus
Your body will react in different ways when you stop using snus. It may feel different for different people, but you will probably notice some kind of impact. A strong urge to get nicotine is clearly the most obvious one - the nicotine in snus is, as we all know, addictive, and when the body is denied the regular dose it has grown accustomed to, it will let you know about it. But the discomfort is temporary – if you manage to persevere, the nicotine craving will eventually go away.
- Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Constipation and other bowel-related problems
- Increased appetite
- Mood swings, irritation
Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms and their level of strain can vary from person to person. To a large extent, it has to do with how strong your addiction is as well as how much and for how long you have been using snus. The vast majority who quit snus do notice withdrawal symptoms in some shape or form, and, for many, it’s a rather grueling period. Withdrawal symptoms often lead to relapses.
As you go through withdrawal symptoms, there are some helpful things to keep in mind:
- The symptoms are temporary. Even while going through this difficult period, try to remember that it’s a transitional period. Just as the body once got used to getting nicotine, it will get used to not getting it. Hold on – it gets better!
- You can lessen the symptoms. Training is a good way to curb snus cravings and increase motivation. Relaxation exercises are another. A balanced and nutritious diet is a third. What matters is that you find what works for you.
- Take advantage of other people's experiences. Former snus-users around you have invaluable knowledge and understanding of your situation. Get new energy, advice and support from them!!