Quitting Cigarettes Research
Bad breath, yellow teeth, a chronic cough--these are some of the disgusting results of smoking cigarettes. Why do people continue to smoke when the effects are so harmful? The typical response from smokers to this question is that they smoke to relax and help relieve stress. Unfortunately, the quick fix are an addictive narcotic. Smoking feeds the addiction, but it also feeds the body with about 40 cancer-causing chemicals as well as almost 4,000 other chemicals.[5] When a smoker comes to the conclusion that they really want to quit that is a major stepping stone in their lives. It could be for personal reasons or health reasons. With that thought there must be a million questions come to mind. Are they going to try Cold Turkey? Are they going to gain weight after they quit? What are the side effects? What method is right for them?
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That is where the challenge begins; choosing the right quitting method. Nicotine is a drug that is found naturally in cigarettes.
Overtime a person can become physically dependent on and emotionally addicted to it. Quitting cigarettes is just as hard as quitting heroin and cocaine. Some people succeed going cold turkey. When some smokers have to quit gradually or try it step by step. When quitting cigarettes smokers are afraid of the side effects as in weight gain or withdraws, so they prolong the quitting process. “In a 2007 review of the effects of abstinence from tobacco, Hughes John R. ed concluded that anger, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, and restlessness are valid withdrawal symptoms that peak within the first week and last two-four weeks."[1] As for the weight gain Nicotine curbs the appetite and triggers the liver to release glycogen. Nicotine is a stimulant, and may also interfere with the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin controls glucose levels in the blood. When this function is blocked, a person will become slightly hyperglycemic, and as a result, the body and brain may slow down the hormones and other signals that trigger feelings of hunger.
[2]
There are many different methods that are offered to help quit smoking cigarettes. “Five medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which in a Cochrane review increased the chances of stop smoking by 50 to 70% compared to placebo or to no treatment are Nicotine Patches, Nicotine Gum, Lozenges, Inhalers and Sprays.” [3] Those are concerted Single Medication. Nicotine patches and Gum are well none. They help reduce the unpleasant effects of the nicotine withdrawal. The Patches replace the nicotine in cigarettes. They come in steps. Patches can be placed anywhere on the body must be put on nonhairy area. A Patch can stay on for up to 24 hours or as long as a person is awake. Slowly but surely people would not have the desire to want a cigarette because they obtain the same nicotine from the patch as if they were smoking a cigarette. When it comes to the Nicotine Gum it is a chewy gum that releases nicotine directly into the body. Available in different flavors also in 2mg or 4mg. The gum is kind of tricky; you have to follow their directions. They suggest “gum should not be used less than 15 minutes after eating or drinking, as this will reduce absorption. Users are directed to chew the gum until it softens and produces a tingling sensation or "peppery" taste. The gum is then "parked" or tucked, in between the cheek and gums. When the tingling ends the gum is chewed again until it returns, and is then re-parked in a new location.”[4] Then there is a product call Nicotine Lozenge, it is in a form of a hard sugar free candy. Also available in different flavors and in two mg or four mg. instead of chewing smokers just suck on the candy slowly and the nicotine with absorbed within the linen of the mouth. With lozenge ex smokers can not smoke. Smokers well have to do research and follow all directions when using any of these methods.
Listed are some good top methods that have many of success stories behind them but it is really mind over matter. A person can do self-help methods; Nicotine Anonymous, web and computer based programs that help assist in quitting. Electronic cigarette can be used as a substitute for cigarettes. These are some methods that the FDA does approve of; that works and may not work so well. “A study found that 93 percent of over-the-counter NRT users relapse and return to smoking within six months.”
Reference
[1] Hughes JR, Stead LF, Lancaster T (2007). Hughes, John R. ed. "Antidepressants for smoking cessation". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD000031. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000031.pub3. PMID 17253443. http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000031.html
[2] http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/weightgain/a/weightgainquit.htm
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_cessation#cite_note-CD000146-31
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine_gum
[5] (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/w8quit-smoke/index.htm)
That is where the challenge begins; choosing the right quitting method. Nicotine is a drug that is found naturally in cigarettes.
Overtime a person can become physically dependent on and emotionally addicted to it. Quitting cigarettes is just as hard as quitting heroin and cocaine. Some people succeed going cold turkey. When some smokers have to quit gradually or try it step by step. When quitting cigarettes smokers are afraid of the side effects as in weight gain or withdraws, so they prolong the quitting process. “In a 2007 review of the effects of abstinence from tobacco, Hughes John R. ed concluded that anger, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, and restlessness are valid withdrawal symptoms that peak within the first week and last two-four weeks."[1] As for the weight gain Nicotine curbs the appetite and triggers the liver to release glycogen. Nicotine is a stimulant, and may also interfere with the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin controls glucose levels in the blood. When this function is blocked, a person will become slightly hyperglycemic, and as a result, the body and brain may slow down the hormones and other signals that trigger feelings of hunger.
[2]
There are many different methods that are offered to help quit smoking cigarettes. “Five medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which in a Cochrane review increased the chances of stop smoking by 50 to 70% compared to placebo or to no treatment are Nicotine Patches, Nicotine Gum, Lozenges, Inhalers and Sprays.” [3] Those are concerted Single Medication. Nicotine patches and Gum are well none. They help reduce the unpleasant effects of the nicotine withdrawal. The Patches replace the nicotine in cigarettes. They come in steps. Patches can be placed anywhere on the body must be put on nonhairy area. A Patch can stay on for up to 24 hours or as long as a person is awake. Slowly but surely people would not have the desire to want a cigarette because they obtain the same nicotine from the patch as if they were smoking a cigarette. When it comes to the Nicotine Gum it is a chewy gum that releases nicotine directly into the body. Available in different flavors also in 2mg or 4mg. The gum is kind of tricky; you have to follow their directions. They suggest “gum should not be used less than 15 minutes after eating or drinking, as this will reduce absorption. Users are directed to chew the gum until it softens and produces a tingling sensation or "peppery" taste. The gum is then "parked" or tucked, in between the cheek and gums. When the tingling ends the gum is chewed again until it returns, and is then re-parked in a new location.”[4] Then there is a product call Nicotine Lozenge, it is in a form of a hard sugar free candy. Also available in different flavors and in two mg or four mg. instead of chewing smokers just suck on the candy slowly and the nicotine with absorbed within the linen of the mouth. With lozenge ex smokers can not smoke. Smokers well have to do research and follow all directions when using any of these methods.
Listed are some good top methods that have many of success stories behind them but it is really mind over matter. A person can do self-help methods; Nicotine Anonymous, web and computer based programs that help assist in quitting. Electronic cigarette can be used as a substitute for cigarettes. These are some methods that the FDA does approve of; that works and may not work so well. “A study found that 93 percent of over-the-counter NRT users relapse and return to smoking within six months.”
Reference
[1] Hughes JR, Stead LF, Lancaster T (2007). Hughes, John R. ed. "Antidepressants for smoking cessation". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD000031. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000031.pub3. PMID 17253443. http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000031.html
[2] http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/weightgain/a/weightgainquit.htm
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_cessation#cite_note-CD000146-31
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine_gum
[5] (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/w8quit-smoke/index.htm)