The immediate health benefits of the quit smoking treatment are substantial. Heart rate and blood pressure, which were abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal. Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood begins to decline. Within a few weeks, you have improved circulation, don't produce as much phlegm and don't cough or wheeze as often. Within several months of the quit smoking treatment, people can expect significant improvements in lung function.
Smoking cessation causes short-term problems like depression, anxiety, restlessness, weight gain, and other problems. Therefore quit smoking treatment is not easy for everyone to follow. But nonetheless, if one is convinced that smoking cessation is essential for his health, he can undergo any of the quit smoking treatments mentioned below:
Nicotine Replacements |
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These products deliver small, measured doses of nicotine into the body, which helps to relieve the cravings and withdrawal symptoms often felt by people during the quit smoking treatment. Strong and consistent evidence shows that nicotine replacement products can help in smoking cessation.
Nicotine Patch is available over the counter and is an 8-week quit smoking treatment. It must be changed daily, to supply a small but steady amount of nicotine to the body. Sold in varying strengths, nicotine doses are gradually lowered as the quit smoking treatment progresses.
Nicotine Gum quit smoking treatment is available over the counter in 2mg and 4mg strengths. Nicotine is released into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. To keep a steady amount of nicotine in the body, a new piece of gum can be chewed every 1 or 2 hours.
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Nicotine Lozenge is also available over the counter in 2mg and 4mg strengths. Nicotine is released into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. This quit smoking treatment works best when used every 1 or 2 hours.
Nicotine Nasal Spray is available by prescription only. The spray comes in a pump bottle containing nicotine that tobacco users can inhale when they have an urge to smoke. Absorption of nicotine via the spray is the fastest.
Nicotine Inhaler, also available only by prescription, delivers a vaporized form of nicotine to the mouth through a mouthpiece attached to a plastic cartridge and absorbed through the mucous membranes.
Non-nicotine Products |
Bupropion, a prescription antidepressant, Zyban, helps reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and can be used safely with nicotine replacement products. Some common side effects are dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, headache, dizziness, and skin rash. People with epilepsy, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, should not use this drug. Avoid using alcohol as risk of seizure increases.
Varenicline, a prescription medicine marketed as Champix aids in smoking cessation and eases the withdrawal symptoms by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they resume smoking. Some common side effects are nausea, changes in dreaming, constipation, gas, and vomiting. People should not use this drug if they have kidney problems, and women should not use this drug if they are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Alternative Methods
Some people claim that alternative approaches may help reduce the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal. However, clinical studies have not shown that these alternative approaches helping smoking cessation. These alternative approaches are:
Hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy, or electro-stimulation
Most people who successfully become nonsmokers will have had at least one setback, because "just one puff" easily rekindles old patterns. |
