Even chain smokers wish they could quit smoking as they become aware about the side effects of using nicotine and the other toxic substances produced during smoking. The real problem faced by people trying to stop smoking is the worrisome withdrawal effects. Withdrawal symptoms when one tries to stop smoking include increased hunger, grouchiness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and headaches. These withdrawal symptoms occur as the body is denied the usual dose of nicotine in the blood. This is where the quit-smoking products available in the market claim to help the person stop smoking and avoid withdrawal effects.
Quit-smoking products generally contain nicotine, which can help people used to it stop smoking withdrawal effects. This is done by supplying low doses of nicotine to the blood. These quit smoking products are helpful if one wishes to stop smoking and avoid its side effects like cancer, bronchitis, heart disease, and stroke. Proponents of quit smoking products claim that most of the withdrawal symptoms after people stop smoking are easier to manage using quit-smoking products.
Various quit-smoking products like nicotine gums, lozenges, patches, and spray are available. Nicotine gums and lozenges release nicotine in the mouth while patches release it in the blood through the skin. Except nicotine inhalers, quit-smoking products are available as over-the-counter medicines. Therefore, medical prescriptions are not required for their use. There are no serious side effects caused by these products to help stop smoking even after prolonged use to avoid the withdrawal effects.
While smoking, large doses of nicotine are released in the blood. This creates dependency on long-term use. However, quit-smoking products release smaller amounts of nicotine, thus no dependency, side effects, or withdrawal effects are noticed when people stop using them. Nicotine replacement therapy is not advisable for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and patients suffering heart troubles owing to some side effects they may experience.
Sometimes withdrawal effects can occur on abruptly quitting nicotine replacement therapy products. Therefore, it is better to stop this therapy gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Also, there are some side effects of these products that help you stop smoking.
Nicotine gums and lozenges leave a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes gums and lozenges may cause tingling in the mouth, heartburn, and nausea as side effects. Sprays and inhalers are not indicated for asthmatics, and may induce cough. Inhalers are also associated with side effects like throat irritations. Nicotine patches have side effects of causing skin allergy and sleep disturbance.
Counseling has a great impact if one wants to stop smoking. Many non-nicotine quit-smoking products like bupropion and varenicline, which are prescription medicines, are also available. These quit-smoking products and counseling are effective aids and may double the chances of success for a person trying to stop smoking.
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