subject: Smoking Is The Hardest Habit To Break [print this page] Smoking cessation is one goal that smokers find hard to achieve. When deciding to quit, smokers usually single out health concerns as the reason to stop the habit. Many smokers go on with the habit out of addiction, not because they don't want to stop.
Addiction to nicotine is the main hindrance to tally overcoming the smoking habit. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug found in tobacco. It is considered as addictive as heroin or cocaine. It is carried deep into the lungs, absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body. Nicotine induces agreeable feelings that make the smoker crave for more. As the nervous system adjusts to the drug, smokers tend to increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, thereby increasing the amount of nicotine in their blood.
Smoking also causes lung cancer and is a risk factor for many other types of cancer as well. It also increases the risks of lung diseases. Other side effects of smoking are premature wrinkling of the skin, bad smell on the clothes and hair, gum disease, stained teeth, yellow fingernails and increased risk of muscular degeneration.
Kicking the tobacco habit is difficult and takes a lot of effort. The absence of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms, which involves physical and mental changes following interruption or termination of drug use. Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following: dizziness, restlessness, headache, tiredness, irritability, feelings of frustration and anger, depression, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, craving and increased appetite. Withdrawal symptoms can occur if a person who has smoked regularly abruptly quits or greatly reduces the number of cigarettes smoked. The symptoms can last up to several weeks.
But once the habit is stopped, the body repairs the damage done almost immediately and beneficial health changes set in. The best way for some people to quit reduces a combination of medicine, change in personal habits and emotional support. One way of stopping the addiction is through Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), which provides nicotine in other forms such as gums, patches, sprays, inhalers or lozenges. Side effects include skin irritation, dizziness, racing heartbeat, sleep problems, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and stiffness.
Nicotine patches provide a measured dose of nicotine through the skin. Nicotine gums act through the mucous membrane of the mouth. Nicotine nasal spray delivers nicotine quickly to the bloodstream as it is absorbed through the nose. Nicotine inhalers provide nicotine vapor to the mouth and are the closest thing to smoking a cigarette. Nicotine lozenges are the newest form of NRT available on the market.
Another pharmaceutical aid to stopping the smoking habit is bupropion, which has similar success rates to NRT. It works be de-sensitizing the brain's nicotine receptors. Other methods of quitting are atropine and scopolamine combination therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, lower level laser therapy, herbal cigarettes, clinics and self-help groups.
Relapses mostly occur within the first three months after quitting. While under treatment, smokers should avoid drinking alcohol, being around other smokers, weight gain and bad mood or depression.
