In a way, going “cold turkey” is the most popular way to quit smoking. Most smokers try this strategy—stopping all at once without the help of medication, nicotine replacement methods, or any formal therapy—on their first attempt to give up cigarettes. But only about 3% to 10% are actually able to kick the habit without help. “It is like tightrope-walking without a net,” says Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science a ... Jump to full article >>

Former smokers have a greater risk of developing diabetes than smokers or nonsmokers. But researchers say that’s due to the pounds people tend to gain after quitting. Smoking raises the risk of diabetes, but new research indicates that — at least in the short term — kicking the habit increases the risk even more. The problem is not really quitting smoking. It’s the pounds most people pack on when they give up cigarettes, ... Jump to full article >>