"The road to snuffing out cigarettes httpshealth.usnews.comhealthcarepatientadvicearticlesloweryourriskforlungcancerbyquittingsmoking once and for all can be a long one. I think the big thing for people to remember is that it usually takes multiple attempts to be successful at quitting smoking says Dr. Valerie Bonne httpdoctors.froedtert.comPhysicianDirectoryBonneValerieJ.htm a pulmonologist at Froedtert  the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee who oversees the health systems smoking cessation program. So just because youve tried in the past and havent been successful doesnt mean you arent going to be successful in the future. In fact research published last year in BMJ Open an online open access journal found that for many smokers it may take  or more quit attempts before they finally kick the habit httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewshealthwellnessarticleshowdoiquitsmoking. Along with being persistent experts like J. Lee Westmaas https strategic director of tobacco control research at the American Cancer Society recommend trying lots of different approaches to smoke out the leading cause of preventable death. I would say use as many aids as you can he says. For those trying to quit one new quit aid on the horizon will be easily accessed with an internet connection and a smartphone tablet or computer tailored emails.  Research led by Westmaas and published in May in the journal Tobacco Control looked at the effect of sending multiple emails to smokers during a quit attempt that were customized based on information provided by those individuals such as quit date their top two reasons for quitting top five triggers for smoking and intended use of cessation medications. The findings showed that approach yielded quit rates that were higher than for those who received a single nontailored email containing links to smoking cessation resources. Selfreported rates of abstinence from smoking at six months after enrollment in the randomized controlled trial were  percent in the multiple email group compared with . percent in the single email group. See  Ways to Live Healthier and Save Money Doing It httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewshealthwellnessslideshowswaystolivehealthierandsavemoneydoingit. Whats more  though smokers are encouraged to try different methods of quitting  the research found the emails worked as a standalone approach. Westmaas says some emails were tailored based on whether study respondents planned to use nicotine replacement therapy httpshealth.usnews.comhealthproductstoprecsmokingcessationaids which has been found to be helpful for those seeking to quit smoking. Those study participants who werent planning to use NRT received an email explaining why use of NRT is actually a good thing he says. Those receiving multiple emails who planned on using NRT got messaging outlining all the different kinds of NRT. Interestingly though when we looked at whether or not people had used NRT our results were the same. So even when we controlled for use of NRT we still found an effect of the intervention he says  that is receiving multiple tailored emails helped people quit smoking regardless. The intervention was effective whether or not you use nicotine replacement therapy. One of the studys limitations was that those who participated were generally welleducated. The majority were white and only  percent reported a high school education or less suggesting the possibility that results may not necessarily be generalizable to less educated or other racial or ethnic groups the researchers wrote. They suggest that future research should examine how well tailored emails worked for these and other groups such as cancer survivors httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewspatientadvicearticlescancersurvivortakingonnewmeaningforpatients or lesbian gay bisexual transsexual and intersex groups. At present the email program studied isnt available to the general public. But Westmaas says the American Cancer Society aims to make a similar program available soon. We hope that by the beginning of next year well have something ready he says adding that it could be earlier depending on the success of efforts to secure funding for the program. In the meantime those who wish to get support for quit attempts but prefer to receive it in a way that fits with an onthego lifestyle can opt to receive text messages to support a quit attempt as well  like through smokefree.gov httpssmokefree.govsmokefreetxt a website created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute. NCI also offers QuitPal httpsmedlineplus.govmagazineissueswinterarticleswinterpgbackcover.html a free app for iPhone or iPad for a quit assist. The app has numerous interactive features such as tracking smoking habits with a calendar and providing tips to deal with cravings. httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewshealthwellnessarticleshowtouseyoursmartphonetoquitsmoking It also allows users to connect with social media where they can see loved ones personalized video messages to support their progress. See  Surprising Habits Killing Your Teeth httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewshealthwellnessslideshowssurprisinghabitskillingyourteeth. The point however support is provided is to deliver it in a way that best suits the individual. It seems like people have preferences for how they want to receive information especially about quitting Westmaas says. While some gravitate toward group smoking cessation classes for example others prefer to talk oneonone with a counselor or on a smoking quitline like QUITNOW also affiliated with NCI. Others prefer less intrapersonal interaction and technology provides a way to reach more people trying to quit. Some people in rural areas httpshealth.usnews.comwellnessslideshowswaysrurallifeishazardoustoyourhealth may not have access to smoking cessation programs says Mary LeVasseur manager of community health and wellness at Lancaster General Health whos responsible for the health systems tobacco prevention and treatment programs. The email approach is not meant to replace other options for quitting Westmaas emphasizes but rather to provide an additional one.  Experts point out in particular that medications and counseling in combination can be a powerful combination  even more effective than either alone. However medications Chantix and Zyban are also associated with risks ranging from depressed mood hostility and aggression to suicidal thoughts httpshealth.usnews.comhealthcareforbetterarticlesstudyrevealsdepressionsuicidalthoughtsnotuncommoninairlinepilots. Most of the medication options and the nicotinereplacement options are fairly well tolerated and effective Bonne says. But experts say its important to keep doctors in the loop when issues arise to determine if medications or NRT should be stopped. See  Things You Didnt Know About Lung Cancer httpshealth.usnews.comhealthnewspatientadviceslideshowsthingsyoudidntknowaboutlungcancer. If using NRT to break a tobacco addiction httpshealth.usnews.comwellnessarticlespopcornandcigarettessmokinginmovies talk with a health provider if you experience nausea dizziness weakness vomiting fast or irregular heartbeat mouth problems with the lozenge or gum or redness or swelling of the skin around an NRT patch that doesnt go away the Food and Drug Administration recommends. Taken by mouth the lozenges can cause a warm or tingling sensation and users are urged to seek medical attention right away if they experience a severe allergic reaction  which may be marked by rash itching swelling of the mouth or difficulty breathing  or other serious side effects. With any attempt to quit experts say its important to take stock of even small successes  like not smoking for a short period even if it doesnt last. We look at tobacco dependence as a chronic disease. So thats the most important thing  knowing that people go through many different cycles of abstinence and remission LeVasseur says. Thats not to say quitting for good isnt possible. Rather experts emphasize its important to take the long view Dont be discouraged and make as many quit attempts and use as many approaches as needed to kick the habit. 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Schroeder https Staff Writer Michael O. Schroeder has been a health editor at U.S. News since . He writes health stories...  Read more Tags health https patients https patient advice https smoking and tobacco https_and_tobacco lung cancer https_cancer"