Anxiety. Difficulty concentrating. Intense cravings. Nightmares. Headaches. Weight gain. Depression. None of those symptoms sounds like much fun. Put them all together and it sounds pretty awful, right?
Lower risk of heart disease. Lower risk of cancers of all kinds. Better circulation. Lower risk of stroke and diabetes. Save money. Those all sound much better. Which list would you choose?
People who are addicted to nicotine and try to go without it are plagued with the first list of consequences. People who lick their addiction reap the benefits of the second. What is the best way to get from the first to the second?
There have been a number of studies over the years that have shown that the smokers who have the most success in quitting use some form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or medication to help them through the initial cessation period. Even though we often hear about this cousin or that coworker who quit cold turkey, never to return to cigarettes for the rest of his or life, that scenario is the exception rather than the rule. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, about 5 percent of those who quit smoking without the use of NRT or medication are successful. Compare that with the more than 30 percent success rate of smokers who use those aids along with learning to change the habits associated with smoking that they acquired over the years.
There are several ways that NRT can be delivered to the body. Probably the most familiar is through a patch that is applied daily. The nicotine in the patch is slowly released into the system through the skin, providing a continuous stream of low amounts of nicotine without the cancer-causing agents that cigarettes contain. The patch comes in several doses, so can be slowly tapered as the weeks go by, eventually allowing the user to be completely free of dependency on nicotine.
Gum and lozenges are two other paths for NRT to be used. These have the advantage of being more short-acting than the patch, so can be used more immediately when a craving arises. They can also be used in addition to the patch for cravings that the patch sometimes doesn’t relieve. Some would-be nonsmokers appreciate the oral aspect of this method of nicotine delivery, as that can be part of the smoking experience that they miss.
NRT can also be obtained through an inhaler and nasal spray. These forms also have a quick-acting effect, though may have more side effects like nose or throat irritation.
Anxiety. Difficulty concentrating. Intense cravings. Nightmares. Headaches. Weight gain. Depression. None of those symptoms sounds like much fun. Put them all together and it sounds pretty awful, right?
Lower risk of heart disease. Lower risk of cancers of all kinds. Better circulation. Lower risk of stroke and diabetes. Save money. Those all sound much better. Which list would you choose?
People who are addicted to nicotine and try to go without it are plagued with the first list of consequences. People who lick their addiction reap the benefits of the second. What is the best way to get from the first to the second?
There have been a number of studies over the years that have shown that the smokers who have the most success in quitting use some form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or medication to help them through the initial cessation period. Even though we often hear about this cousin or that coworker who quit cold turkey, never to return to cigarettes for the rest of his or life, that scenario is the exception rather than the rule. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, about 5 percent of those who quit smoking without the use of NRT or medication are successful. Compare that with the more than 30 percent success rate of smokers who use those aids along with learning to change the habits associated with smoking that they acquired over the years.
There are several ways that NRT can be delivered to the body. Probably the most familiar is through a patch that is applied daily. The nicotine in the patch is slowly released into the system through the skin, providing a continuous stream of low amounts of nicotine without the cancer-causing agents that cigarettes contain. The patch comes in several doses, so can be slowly tapered as the weeks go by, eventually allowing the user to be completely free of dependency on nicotine.
Gum and lozenges are two other paths for NRT to be used. These have the advantage of being more short-acting than the patch, so can be used more immediately when a craving arises. They can also be used in addition to the patch for cravings that the patch sometimes doesn’t relieve. Some would-be nonsmokers appreciate the oral aspect of this method of nicotine delivery, as that can be part of the smoking experience that they miss.
NRT can also be obtained through an inhaler and nasal spray. These forms also have a quick-acting effect, though may have more side effects like nose or throat irritation.
Two medications that are commonly used to help a person quit smoking are varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zybanor Welbutrin). These are by prescription only so a visit to a healthcare provider is a must (a very good idea to kick off a quit attempt anyway). As with so many medications for anything, there can be side effects. If you go this route, make sure to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist which side effects are most common so you know what to be on the lookout for.
Some quitters turn to cigar smoking, tobacco chewing, hookah smoking or using electronic cigarettes in an attempt to help them on this path to being a nonsmoker. None of these methods are a good choice. Any tobacco use, no matter how it is delivered into the system, is unsafe. According to Mayo Clinic internist and director of the Nicotine Dependence Center Dr. Richard D. Hurt, tobacco has more than 60 cancer-causing chemicals that can readily enter the body through any of these methods. Electronic cigarettes do not use tobacco as their source of nicotine; however, the Food and Drug Administration, after analyzing the ingredients in two popular brands of e-cigarettes, issued a warning about the possible health risks one could encounter with their use.
The NYS Smokers Quitline is a valuable resource for those who are ready to quit or just want more information. The number is 1-866-NYQUITS. You can access them online at nysmokefree.com. Some people are eligible for a free two-week supply of NRT through this phone line or website.
Easy? Far from it. Impossible? Certainly not. Tens of thousands of people have quit smoking permanently with the use of these cessation aids. If it is the right time for you or someone you care about to quit, now you know how the most successful quitters become smoke-free.
Pam Maxson is a health educator at Noyes Hospital in Dansville. If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, she can be reached at 585-335-4327 or pmaxson@noyes-hospital.org.
