Risk Factors of Smoking
Smoking - however controlled - has been linked to serious health risks. It affects the:
Lungs: It has been revealed that smoking alone is accountable for about 90% of the deaths due to lung cancer. Moreover, it may result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which also includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Asthamatic smokers who give up smoking can improve their lung function in as little as a week. Therefore the harmful effects of smoking can be easily reversed.
Cardiovascular System: Tobacco, in all its forms (smoking, chewing tobacco and inhaling second hand smoke), is known to raise the risk of heart attacks. Smokers face a risk up to three times greater of having a heart attack compared to non-smokers. The risk of heart attacks among those who have stopped smoking slowly decreases over time.
Effects on Male Fertility and Impotence: Smoking negatively affects a man's sexuality and fertility. It is said to be a contributory factor in impotence because it decreases the blood flow into the penis. In men with high blood pressure, smoking causes an almost 26-fold increase in impotence.
Smoking weakens sperm motility, decreases sperm lifespan, and has the potential to cause genetic changes that can affect the offspring. In addition, smokers (both men and women) are found to have lower success rates with fertility treatments. Moreover, studies have revealed that male smokers have a decreased libido and therefore less frequent sex.
Effects on Female Infertility, Pregnancy, and Childbirth: In women, smoking is linked to many reproductive problems. Smoking during pregnancy may affect the health of the foetus. Negative effects of smoking on female fertility include: Greater risk for infertility (in women who smoke one or more packs a day or start smoking before the age of 18 Earlier menopause (because toxins in cigarette smoke damage the eggs) Pregnancy complications (smoking increases the risk for ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage)
Medical Advice for Stop Smoking
It is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes the addiction. However, nicotine replacement products help in smoking cessation. They deliver small, measured doses of nicotine into the body. This helps relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms and thus help people quit smoking.
These nicotine replacement products prevent the person from inhaling tobacco smoke which contains many toxic and cancer-causing substances. Even long-term use of nicotine replacement products is not known to be associated with any serious harmful effects.
All the approved nicotine replacement products are equally effective. They are:
Nicotine Patch is available without a prescription. This patch is changed daily and worn on a different location everyday. It sends a steady amount of nicotine into the body. The nicotine patch comes as pat of an 8-week quit smoking treatment. As the treatment progresses, nicotine doses are gradually lowered. However it is not advisable for people who are allergic to adhesive tape or who have skin problems. In addition, people who experience side effects like vivid dreams must opt to wear the patch only during the day.
Nicotine Gum is an over-the-counter treatment and comes in 2mg and 4mg strengths. A new gum every 1 or 2 hours releases steady amounts of nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. The 4mg dose works better for the highly dependent smokers, smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day. However, nicotine gum might not be suitable for people with dentures and bridges or for people with temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) disease. When on nicotine gum, use of beverages like coffee, juice or other acidic beverages must be curtailed.
Nicotine Lozenge is also available without a prescription in 2mg and 4mg strengths. Acting in a similar fashion to the nicotine gum, the lozenge is placed between the cheek and gum tissue and allowed to dissolve, releasing nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. A new lozenge can be sucked every 1 or 2 hours. Consumption of coffee, juice and other acidic beverages must be stopped while sucking on the nicotine lozenge.
Nicotine Nasal Spray is a prescription only drug. It comes in a pump bottle and can be inhaled when the urge to smoke arises. This is the fastest absorbing nicotine replacement therapy. However, this product is not recommended for people with nasal or sinus conditions, allergies, asthma or young tobacco users. Side effects from this product include sneezing, coughing, and watering eyes which usually go away with continued use.
Nicotine Inhaler, also available on prescription only, delivers the vaporized form of nicotine. It is inhaled through a mouthpiece attached to a plastic cartridge but like a cigarette it does not deliver nicotine directly into the lungs. Most of the nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and the throat. Common side effects include throat and mouth irritation and coughing. People with a bronchial problem such as asthma must use this product with caution.
Various nicotine replacement therapies can be combined upon recommendation from a health care provider. In addition, it is advisable to for smokers to quit using tobacco products before starting the use of nicotine replacement products because nicotine overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, weakness and rapid heartbeat.
Non-nicotine drugs that help people quit smoking are:
Zyban® (Bupropion) is approved for the treatment of nicotine addiction. It helps reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms as well as the urge to smoke. It can also be used safely with nicotine replacement products. Some of its common side effects are dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, headache, dizziness, and skin rash. People who are on other medicines that contain Bupropion hydrochloride and people who have been diagnosed with a seizure condition such as epilepsy or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia must not take this medication. Combining alcohol with Bupropion increases the risk of a seizure.
Champixâ„¢ Varenicline is a prescription smoking cessation drug. It helps with quit smoking by easing the withdrawal symptoms and blocking the effects of nicotine if smoking is resumed. Some common Varenicline side effects include nausea, vivid dreams, constipation, gas, and vomiting. People with kidney problems, pregnant women and lactating mothers should not use this drug.
Although Nortriptyline and Clonidine are not currently approved, doctors sometimes do prescribe these drugs to help people quit smoking.
Alternative approaches for stop smoking are: Hypnosis Acupuncture Acupressure Laser therapy Electro-stimulation
Some people claim that alternative approaches may help in reducing the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal. However, clinical studies have not been able to prove this point.
How Champix is a better smoking cessation treatment?
Champix is a non-nicotine smoking cessation drug. It targets the same receptors that nicotine does. While, most other smoking cessation drugs contain nicotine in varying amounts, with Champix, the person is safe and will no have to gradually wean off it as is the case with nicotine based smoking cessation therapies that could prove to be addictive.
Champix is a prescription drug which contains the active ingredient Varenicline. It works by stimulating the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. This helps relieve the craving and withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit smoking. Varenicline blocks nicotine's action on these receptors. As a result, smoking no longer comes across as enjoyable. In certain individuals stopping the use of Champix may result in: A craving to smoke Irritability Depression Insomnia
However, gradually tapering off the dose at the end of the treatment may help in reducing these problems. As with all prescriptions medications, Champix too has its share of side-effects and this could put people off from using the drug. But, some people may not be suitable for this treatment. A medical professional is the best person to take a call on this.
