While one of the best healthier choices smokers can make is to stop smoking, declaring that this is their last puff can be challenging, yet it is the first step to body recovery. This is because once you stop smoking, carbon monoxide levels in your blood can start to drop, with noticeable results such as easy breathing starting to be experienced within a week. This is why smokers need to give their best shot to stop smoking successfully because about 95% of smokers who attempt it end up smoking again. If you are finding it difficult or looking for effective ways to help you reach your goal, consider using products such as smoking cessation, nicotine gums, patches, or lozenges. To help you understand, in this blog, we discuss effective ways to help you stop smoking.
Understanding Nicotine Replacement Products
Nicotine replacement products are designed to gradually break the addiction by controlling the nicotine dose. These products help smokers manage their cravings and also get rid of the withdrawal symptoms. As you decide to incorporate nicotine replacement products into your stop-smoking process, the doses will get lower and lower, resulting in the need for less nicotine. Studies even show that smokers have around 70% chance of quitting if they use these products.
To help you understand nicotine replacement products, below are some of the options available online:
Patches
One of the popular options used in nicotine replacement therapies is patches, a transdermal patch that releases nicotine into the body through the skin. These patches allow a small amount of nicotine into the body. You do not need a prescription to buy nicotine patches, and they are available on Direct Care.
When using nicotine patches, it is advisable to use a new patch daily and on a different spot on the body. For your nicotine patch to be more effective, it is advisable to start the nicotine patch therapy a week before your quit date and also, consider combining it with another nicotine product.
Nicotine Gum
Just like regular gum, nicotine gum can be chewed, and it is available in different nicotine doses. The technique for chewing nicotine gum is to be alert for a tingle sensation in your mouth, when you start feeling it, immediately stop and put it between your cheek and gums. Repeat the chewing process when you start feeling that the tingling is fading. This chewing and pausing process can be repeated every 30 minutes. Also, for effective results, it is advisable to chew one piece of gum every two hours for the first 6 weeks and the whole treatment should last around 12 weeks.
Lozenge
Lozenge can be easily accessed, as is over-the-counter supplement. These capsules can be taken after meals and can dissolve in the mouth. The dose of these capsules may depend on how much you smoke, with the treatment lasting 12 weeks.
Spray
While some may buy nicotine spray over the counter, others may need to get have a prescription. This is because the spray delivers nicotine through your nose or mouth, and its treatment should last 12 weeks.
Inhaler
Nicotine inhaler works the same as asthma treatment, to deliver the nicotine, place the cartridge into the mouth and breathe in a puff. It is important to know that you can buy this nicotine inhaler using a prescription only, and the treatment should last for 12 weeks.
The Final Word
Congratulations on deciding to stop smoking, now that you have some options to help you quit, consider choosing the right treatment that works for you. Also, consider browsing our stop-smoking category which features a wide range of products including smoking cessation, gum, lozenges, micro tabs, and patches.
