Regular smokers may look for help to quit smoking on their own because smoking causes various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and also causes health problems for those exposed to secondhand smoke. For those who want to find an easy and effective way to quit smoking, you may try Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), which is a nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit smoking. Currently, there are many types to choose from, such as nicotine gum, which can be purchased without a prescription from a doctor. It is also easy to use and can be chewed immediately when you feel like smoking. It helps prevent withdrawal symptoms caused by sudden nicotine withdrawal. And It is a good helper to successfully quit smoking without suffering.
What is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)?
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is the use of nicotine to help quit smoking gradually by slowly reducing the amount of nicotine taken into the body until the body can adjust and eventually stop using nicotine. This is a method that can help reduce cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, depression, confusion, and restlessness caused by the body’s acute lack of nicotine. In addition, nicotine replacement does not contain carbon monoxide, tar, or other toxic chemicals like cigarettes, so it is more beneficial to health than quitting smoking by gradually smoking less.
Types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Currently, there are two types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) available in Thailand:
- Nicotine gum is chewed to create a tingling sensation in the mouth and then held between the cheek and gums. It is a popular nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation because it is easy to use and readily available.
- Nicotine patches are applied by applying a small amount of nicotine to the skin at regular intervals. They must be worn for 24 hours and replaced at the same time each day.
What is nicotine gum?
Nicotine gum is a nicotine replacement substance in the form of chewing gum to help quit smoking. While chewing, the gum will slowly release nicotine into the body, helping to distract from the desire to smoke. It helps prevent smoking withdrawal symptoms from sudden nicotine withdrawal. When switching from smoking to chewing nicotine gum, สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่. it will help the body need nicotine less and less until you can finally quit smoking. It is generally used together with nicotine patches.
How can nicotine gum help you quit smoking?
When smoking, nicotine from cigarettes is absorbed into the bloodstream and flows to the brain, causing smokers to feel relaxed quickly. That’s why many people choose to smoke when they feel stressed or anxious. But regular smoking can also cause addiction and cravings for nicotine. When you quit smoking cold turkey, your body often experiences nicotine withdrawal symptoms, also known as smoking withdrawal symptoms, causing you to feel restless, irritated, have headaches, and insomnia, to the point where you have to go back to smoking again.
But if you quit smoking by chewing nicotine gum, which contains low levels of nicotine replacement, your body will not suddenly lack nicotine. Chewing gum will help you not feel empty and distract you from wanting to smoke. While chewing gum, your body will gradually adjust and get used to the reduced amount of nicotine, which can help you quit smoking more easily and without suffering. In addition, nicotine gum is free from tar, carbon monoxide, and other toxic substances found in cigarette smoke, so it is more beneficial to your health than quitting smoking by smoking less and less.
How to chew nicotine gum
Nicotine gum is similar to regular gum. The correct way to chew nicotine gum to help you quit smoking without suffering is as follows:
Step 1: Chew gum when you feel the urge to smoke. Or if you can predict when you will feel the urge to smoke, start chewing nicotine gum before you feel the urge to smoke.
Step 2: Chew the nicotine gum until you feel a tingling sensation in your mouth, then place the gum under your tongue or in your cheek. Hold it until the tingling sensation disappears, then chew it again.
Step 3: Repeat step 2 for about 30 minutes or until the taste disappears or the craving for cigarettes decreases.
You should not chew more than 24 pieces of nicotine gum per day and it is recommended to use nicotine gum continuously for 6-12 weeks or not more than 6 months. During use, gradually reduce the amount of gum chewed until your body no longer feels the urge to smoke, then you can stop using it.
Tips for Using Nicotine Gum
You should avoid drinking acidic beverages such as coffee, soft drinks, fruit juices, and beer for about 15 minutes before chewing nicotine gum to allow your body to fully absorb the nicotine and allow the nicotine gum to work at its best. You should also avoid swallowing too much or too often because nicotine can irritate the digestive tract.
Side effects of nicotine gum
Side effects of quitting smoking with nicotine gum may include:
- Increased saliva, swollen tongue, mouth ulcers
- Sore throat, jaw pain
- Hiccups, nausea, vomiting
- Indigestion
- Rapid heartbeat, difficulty sleeping
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety
- Dizziness, headache
- stomach ache
- May increase appetite. Eating more can lead to weight gain.
Precautions for quitting smoking with nicotine gum
Those who start using nicotine gum should stop smoking because smoking while chewing nicotine gum may cause the body to receive more nicotine, leading to health problems such as headache, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, high blood pressure, pale skin, which may be so severe that it causes the inability to control muscles and leads to seizures.
For those who use nicotine gum to help quit smoking but still feel craving cigarettes or have withdrawal symptoms, you should see your doctor for a physical examination, as it may be necessary to change the type of nicotine replacement.
What are the benefits of quitting smoking?
Quitting smoking has many positive effects on both your own health and the health of those around you, as follows:
- It helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease because the chemicals in cigarettes can destroy cells and tissues in the body, causing inflammation, which may result in high blood pressure, blood clotting, slow blood circulation, heart attacks, and strokes.
- It helps reduce the risk of respiratory diseases because chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage tissues and mucous membranes in the nose, causing irritation and inflammation, which can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. In addition, it can also have a negative effect on the lungs, causing them to work harder and potentially increasing the risk of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and emphysema.
- Helps reduce the risk of cancer. Smoking can cause inflammation of cells and tissues in the body, which may have a tendency to develop into cancer cells in the future, especially lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and esophageal cancer.
- Help people around you avoid second-hand smoke. Smoking inside the home or in public places not only destroys your own health, but also affects people around you. This is because inhaling second-hand smoke can harm your health just as much as smoking yourself. Especially for children, the elderly, or people who are already not in good health, exposure to second-hand smoke can greatly harm your health.
- Quitting smoking can improve your health. Once you quit, your circulation begins to improve, your lungs work more efficiently, allowing you to breathe better and your overall health improves. This reduces your risk of premature death from chronic diseases and health problems caused by inflammation in the body caused by chemicals in cigarettes.