Health Watch By Amanda Hamil

The North Jefferson News



Type in “quit smoking” on Google and you will come up with close to 7 million searches.

The staggering number of Internet searches being done on how to quit smoking is a true testament to how hard it is to quit and how many people are searching for the answer. Hopefully after reading this article, you will be better informed as to why you are addicted, how your health is being affected and what you can do to finally kick the habit, once and for all.

It is difficult to stop smoking because of the addiction to nicotine, a natural product found in tobacco. Once nicotine is inhaled and released in the bloodstream, it produces a calming effect. It may also boost your mood or make you feel more alert.

Your body will eventually adjust to the amount of nicotine received, building a tolerance to its effects. Once your body gets used to having nicotine, being without it for a few hours may cause you to feel nervous, dizzy, angry or tired. These withdrawal effects are what make quitting smoking so hard to do.

Most people know that smoking is bad for you, but you may not know exactly what smoking is doing to your health. Here is a brief list of the adverse effects of smoking:

• Lung cancer

• Cancer of the mouth and esophagus

• Bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix and stomach cancer

• Lung problems, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and pneumonia

• Heart attack

• Stroke

According to a study done by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you could lose up to 13.2 years of life if you are male, and up to 14.5 years of life if you are female. The good news is that no matter how long you have smoked, quitting now is tremendously beneficial to your health. Even one year after quitting, the risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

Once you have made the decision to quit smoking in order to better your health for you and your family, you may wonder where to start. The following provides information on the various products currently available over-the-counter to help you quit, including patches, gum, and lozenges.



Cessation tools

Currently, none of the following products are approved for use while smoking. You must quit smoking before using any of these over-the-counter products.

• Nicotine patches: There are different strengths of the patch available, depending on how many cigarettes you smoke per day. For example, if you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, start with the 21 mg patch and taper down. The patch should be applied on clean, dry skin around the same time everyday. Side effects can include skin irritation, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headache and nausea.

• Nicotine gum: The gum is available in 2 mg and 4 mg doses. Start with the 4 mg if you smoke more than one pack a day or smoke within 30 minutes of waking. Chew gum slowly until you notice a peppery taste, then park it in your cheek for a few minutes, then chew for a few minutes. Chewing one to two pieces of gum per hour is common, but do not chew more than 20 pieces of gum per day. Side effects include a bad taste, throat irritation, nausea, jaw discomfort and rapid heart rate.

• Nicotine lozenge: Like the gum, lozenges are available in 2 mg and 4 mg doses. Start with the 4 mg if you smoke more than one pack a day or smoke within 30 minutes of waking. The recommended dose is one lozenge every one to two hours for six weeks, then one lozenge every two to four hours for seven to nine weeks, and finally, one lozenge every four to eight hours for 10-12 weeks. Do not bite or chew the lozenge and do not use more than 20 lozenges per day. Side effects include trouble sleeping, heartburn, headache and nausea.

Pick a product that best suits your lifestyle. What worked for your neighbor may not work for you. Remember to avoid temptations, change your habits and frequently review your personal reasons for quitting.

Most importantly, believe that you can learn to live without smoking. Talk to your pharmacist for further information, advice and support.

Amanda Hamil is a Pharm D candidate at Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, interning at The Pharmacy in Mt. Olive. The Pharmacy can be reached at 631-1201.