Smoking cessation is a difficult task that will last a lifetime, but it is doable with the help of a few expert recommendations. Cigarette smoking is highly addicting and has long-term negative health consequences. 

In the United States, smoking is the largest cause of preventable mortality, accounting for approximately one-fifth of all deaths. 

Cigarettes include compounds that make addiction more difficult to detect. When they go into the lungs, they can cause things like bronchitis. Smoking can lead to lung cancer, which has a survival rate of less than 18 percent within five years after diagnosis.

Here are five steps you may do to assist you or a loved one in quitting smoking and living a healthy lifestyle:

1. Concentrate on 'staying quit.'

The goal should not be to quit smoking, but rather to "remain quit," according to Galiatsatos. He's had patients tell him they've tried many times to quit but haven't been able to do so permanently.

He advises people to break down their overall aim of stopping smoking into smaller objectives. Learn about your different triggers that may make you desire to smoke, for example. You'll be able to be more attentive to your activities and identify solutions as a result.

2. Turn every time you quit into a learning opportunity.

As recurrence is so common, Bricker encourages his patients to learn something from each episode. "I understood how powerful these cravings are, or I discovered how seeing my friend smoke was a major trigger for me, or I learned that stress in my life was a big trigger," Bricker said.

Patients should approach quitting with the mindset that the more they learn from their relapses, the more likely they are to quit for good, he said. Because of the addictive nature of cigarettes, most smokers attempt to quit eight to twelve times before quitting for good.

3. Address the problem's primary cause.

Many people smoke to cope with underlying issues in their lives, such as stress or anxiety, according to Galiatsatos. When they're trying to quit smoking and are confronted with those emotions, it's natural for them to resort to cigarettes.

Galiatsatos suggested that persons who are trying to quit smoking seek behavioral counseling to help them overcome this obstacle. They will be able to better understand why they smoked and learn to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

4. Consult your healthcare provider.

People who wish to quit smoking should speak with their doctor about developing a treatment plan that includes a variety of tactics, according to Galiatsatos.

Doctors can prescribe medication to help people manage their cigarette urges, he said. It's a short-term strategy to help teach your brain to have less of a desire for smokes, according to Bricker.

According to Bricker, the medications prescribed by doctors will be based on your specific scenario. Prescriptions are usually mild at first, then increase in intensity depending on the degree of the addiction.

5. Provide assistance to persons who are addicted to smoking.

When attempting to assist a smoker, make it apparent that you are approaching the matter without prejudice or judgment, according to Galiatsatos.Once trust has been formed, he suggests that friends and family members volunteer to assist smokers in locating options for quitting smoking.

Medical professionals should also be supportive of their smoker patients. Even if patients aren't motivated to quit smoking that day, it's critical to lay out the various therapy choices so they can access them later.