Millions of smokers succeed each year in quitting smoking, you can be one of them!
Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds of toxic substances that affect the lungs, the heart and other parts of the body, and about 70 of these substances can cause cancer.
Examples of substances that pose a great danger are tar.
Nicotine, and carbon monoxide.
Nicotine is the addictive chemical to cigarettes, as nicotine is more addictive than heroin and cocaine, it activates receptors in the pleasure centers in the brain, so the smoker will have a craving to smoke more to get more of it.
Smokers face great difficulty in quitting smoking, there must be a strong incentive to help transition to
a smoke-free lifestyle, since stopping smoking necessitates two main steps: eliminating nicotine addiction and breaking the smoking habit.
When smokers quit smoking, they will need Alternative ways to fill the void created by excluding smoking from daily rituals and habits.
Nicotine substitutes
To overcome nicotine addiction, other nicotine alternatives can be used as a primary solution, which are products that provide the body with very small doses of nicotine compared to tobacco, and do not contain other toxic substances such as tar, and thus help alleviate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
The smoker's addiction is high whenever he needs high doses of these alternatives in the beginning, and the doses used in the treatment are reduced throughout the period of use, so that the smoker can control his addiction.
Examples of nicotine alternatives that may be used include:
Nicotine patches
Nicotine patches are thin, self-adhesive patches that gradually inject nicotine into the body through the skin.
They can be used without a prescription, so that one patch is used daily and is replaced after 24 hours.
The patch is applied to different areas of the skin, including the area above the waist, under the neck, the arm and the chest, and the area where the patch is applied must be free of hair.
People who smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day should start using low-dose patches (such as 14 mg).
If a person notices that applying the patch at night causes strange dreams, they can try not to use them during the night.
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum contains a small amount of nicotine, so that it is absorbed through the lining of the mouth when chewing, and it can be used without a prescription, and doses depend on the amount of smoking.
You must follow a certain technique for chewing nicotine gum to work effectively, as the following considerations:
Chew a piece of gum to release nicotine from it, until a stinging taste or a tingling sensation is felt in the mouth.
Retain gum by placing it between the gum and cheek to allow nicotine to be absorbed until the stinging or tingling taste disappears.
Chew gum again to release more nicotine.
Repeat this process for 30 minutes, then discard the gum as all the nicotine it contains has been used up.
A piece of gum can be used every hour or two, taking into account the need not to use more than 20 pieces of gum per day, and the treatment period may extend from about 6 to 12 weeks.
Nicotine lozenges
Nicotine lozenge tablets are tablets that contain a small amount of nicotine (2 mg or 4 mg), and they can be used without a prescription, so that the person places a lozenge between the gum and the cheek
and sucks it slowly until it dissolves, and thus enters Nicotine enters the bloodstream after it is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, taking into account the need not to use more than 20 tablets per day, and the treatment period may extend to about 12 weeks.
Nicotine nasal spray
The use of a nicotine nasal spray leads to the delivery of the nicotine spray into the nose and mouth, it cannot be used without a prescription, as the person needs to consult a doctor before using it, the
recommended dose ranges between two sprays and two sprays in each nostril, once or twice a The watch, and it should not be used more than 80 times a day for a period of 12 weeks.
A nicotine inhaler
The nicotine inhaler device Nicotine Inhaler is a device that gives a small dose of nicotine, and is only available with a prescription.
This device releases nicotine vapor from a cartridge inside it when inhaling it, and thus nicotine enters
the bloodstream, where it is absorbed from Through the lining of the mouth and throat, it is important
for the user to keep the steam in his mouth for a few seconds, then blow it, with the need to ensure that it is not introduced into the lungs, and it is used for a period of 12 weeks.
Side effects of nicotine replacement therapy
NRTs may cause many risks and side effects, and they increase when using very high doses, and these symptoms can be prevented by reducing the doses, and side effects include the following:
Headache
Nausea and other digestive problems.
Sleep problems, especially in the first few days of use, and that disappear with time.
In some cases, nicotine patches are safe for people with stable cardiovascular problems, but people with low levels of good cholesterol caused by smoking will not improve until they stop using these patches.
NRTs may not be completely safe for pregnant women, as unborn babies of women who use nicotine patches can have a rapid heart rate.
Smoking cessation drugs
In recent years, a number of drugs have appeared that help to quit smoking, which a doctor or specialist can use and devise a specific program for the smoker to help him quit smoking within a certain period of time, as some medical drugs change chemicals in the brain in order to reduce cravings.
When it comes to quitting smoking and reducing withdrawal effects, some nicotine substitutes should be used in combination with prescription medications to alleviate severe withdrawal symptoms.
and examples of drugs that are used to quit smoking include:
Varenicline.
Bupropion
Nortriptyline.
Clonidine.
Alternative treatments
There are many alternative therapies aimed at breaking the physical and mental smoking habit, so they can be used alone or in conjunction with drugs or nicotine alternatives, examples of which are the following:
Acupuncture.
Meditation.
Hypnosis or hypnosis.
Support and psychological sessions
A smoker can resort to support sessions that provide advice and help to quit smoking, and he can participate in these sessions in conjunction with his use of drugs or nicotine alternatives.
Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal
The symptoms of quitting smoking differ from one person to another depending on the surrounding environment, the number of cigarettes consumed per day, the length of the smoking period, and these symptoms are the result of interruption from nicotine, and usually last from several days to several
weeks, but the smoker will continue to fight his mental desire and habit of smoking For a longer period, these symptoms cannot be generalized for everyone who stops smoking, but they are common in heavy smokers who stop smoking suddenly.
Nicotine withdrawal effects include physical, behavioural, and emotional symptoms, and they are more severe within the first 3 to 5 days after quitting smoking.
Once this period has passed, the physical symptoms will begin to disappear, but some mental and emotional symptoms will remain for several more weeks.
Physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:
Headache, which is one of the first symptoms to appear, and it is one of the first symptoms that disappear after several days.
Weight gain, as cigarettes contain two chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) that reduce appetite and the feeling of hunger, and as soon as you quit smoking, the appetite returns to normal.
Cough, as the respiratory system will clear itself, so the cough will last for a few weeks.
Cravings for smoking, where the person's desire to smoke begins after finishing the last cigarette with only half an hour, and the feeling of desire will continue every 15 to 20 minutes, and the person will need to do his best not to return to smoking again.
Fatigue and fatigue, as nicotine is considered a stimulant, and a person may feel tired after stopping it, in addition to the possibility of insomnia and restlessness.
Constipation, as this may be one of the symptoms that appear and disappear during the first month of quitting smoking.
As for the psychological, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, they include the following:
Anxiety, as smoking reduces the feeling of tension, and this appears 3 days after quitting smoking and disappears within two weeks.
Depression, which can start from the first day of quitting smoking and last for about a month.
Irritability, as a person may feel angry, which is normal and will pass after a short period.
Difficulty concentrating.
Schedule for nicotine withdrawal
The faster the smoker quits smoking, the less chance he will be infected with diseases caused by smoking from cancers and others, and this is what can be expected after completing the last cigarette:
After 20 minutes of quitting smoking
The effects of nicotine will wear off, the heart rate will decrease, and the blood pressure will decrease.
12 hours after quitting smoking
The level of carbon monoxide in the blood decreases and returns to its normal levels, and the levels of oxygen in the blood begin to increase to reach their normal levels.
24 hours after quitting smoking
The risk of heart attacks decreases due to the decrease in constriction of the veins and arteries, and the return of oxygen levels to normal levels to enhance heart function.
After 42 hours of quitting smoking
Damaged nerve endings begin to grow again, and the senses affected by smoking, such as the sense of smell and the sense of taste, improve.
After 2 to 3 months of quitting smoking
Blood circulation improves, lung function improves, breathing becomes easier, and some exercise can be practiced without feeling tired, which the smoker had noticed before he quit smoking.
1-9 months after quitting smoking
The smoker's sense of desire to smoke decreases, coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and the cilia in the lungs begin to restore their normal function by moving mucus, cleaning the lungs, and
reducing the risk of infection, and the energy of the body increases, in addition to increasing fertility for both men and women.
After a year of quitting smoking
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease is halved compared to someone else who smokes, and the risk of stroke is greatly reduced.
Five years after quitting smoking
The risk of developing cancer of the throat, esophagus and bladder is reduced by half, and the risk of cervical cancer becomes equal to the likelihood of a non-smoker, and the risk of stroke decreases to become the likelihood of injury to a non-smoker.
After 10 years of quitting smoking
The risk of dying from lung cancer is halved, and the risk of developing laryngeal and pancreatic cancer is also greatly reduced.
After 15 years of quitting smoking
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease becomes equal to the likelihood that a non-smoker will develop it.
Benefits of quitting smoking
Here are some of the benefits a person will reap once they quit smoking:
Saving money he was spending on tobacco.
Improved sense of taste.
Improved sense of smell.
Get rid of bad breath.
Teeth and nails stop yellowing.
Feeling short of breath and fatigue when performing normal daily activities, such as climbing stairs or doing light housework.
Stopping the harmful aesthetic effects of smoking including premature wrinkles, gum disease, and tooth loss.
References
Healthline. What Do You Want to Know About Smoking Cessation?. Retrieved on (27-5-2019), from:
https://www.healthline.com/health/quit-smoking.
Webmd. Quit-Smoking Aids: Know Your Options. Retrieved on (27-5-2019), from:
https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/quit-smoking-aids-know-your-options#1.
Medlineplus. Nicotine replacement therapy. Retrieved on (27-5-2019), from:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007438.htm.
Rachel Nall. What Happens When You Quit Smoking?. Retrieved on (27-5-2019), from:
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-happens-when-you-quit-smoking.
American cancer society. Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time. Retrieved on (27-5-2019), from:
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