As we grow older, we start to realize the importance of health and wellness, there's a saying "Health is Wealth" and I couldn’t agree more, if you're a smoker, have you ever wondered what is the best way to reduce harm from smoking? Unfortunately, there's none, the best way is to quit smoking and nicotine completely, having that said smoking is a temptation that can be very hard to stop but there are small changes in your lifestyle to help with the situation.

Let's go in details of why smoking harms us, tobacco is best known for three major dangers: Carbon monoxide, Nicotine & Tar. The cigarette tar is a term used to describe the toxic chemical particles left behind by burning tobacco. Nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes, but it is the tar that is responsible for the biggest health risks, including many types of cancer.

Recently I've learned a little bit more about tobacco harm reduction which refers to switching to a less harmful nicotine product for those who are not able to quit smoking or nicotine use.

Smoke-free nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes or Heated tobacco products to reduce harm from smoking. These options are not risk-free, but it helps to reduce exposure to harmful compounds when compared to smoking cigarettes. It can help satisfies the nicotine cravings with an added advantage of replicating the familiar hand-to-mouth ritual and sensations of smoking which smokers can find very hard to stop.

Believe it or not I used to be a heavy smoker when I was in my 20s, on bad day a pack is easily finished by me but due to health reasons and after a having a family, I knew I had to deal with the problem sooner or later, at first it was really hard to quit, I started having mood swings, craving for a stick all the time but I found an alternative to help and support my journey to quit smoking with heated tobacco. 

Heated tobacco was an alternative to help curb my cravings, although not entirely safe risk-free but it has lessened my need to smoke and after trying it out, I noticed I can’t smoking smoke normal combustible cigarettes anymore, ask anyone who turned to that and they'll agree with you, eventually this ich lead to me stopping smoking entirely. 

Hope my personal sharing will be able to help those in need, it's never too late to stop just need to find the right way to help you throughout your journey. 

Reference List: 

• https://www.athra.org.au/what-is-tobacco-harm-reduction/

• https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette

• https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/05/27/rethink-tobacco-harm-reduction-strategies-to-curb-smoking/

• https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-sheet

• https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/e-cigarettes-vaping/what-do-we-know-about-e-cigarettes.html