Smoking cigarettes is a very dangerous habit. Long gone are the days when smoking was cool and practically everyone smoked. Today we are all too aware of the damages cigarette smoking causes. If you are smoking now, chances are you would like to quit. Maybe you have even tried to quit, but the cigarettes have too strong a hold on you.
Well today we have new aids to help you quit smoking that can actually make the process more bearable to get you to finally quit for good. One of the easiest to get and use is the nicotine patch.
What is NRT?
When you quit smoking, your body will go through withdrawal symptoms from the absence of nicotine. One way to ease some of the symptoms is to use a nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT, program. There are a few different NRTs available: nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, inhalers and the nicotine patch.
However, not all of these products are available over-the-counter, while at least one brand of the patch is. The nicotine in the patch, unlike other NRT products, is delivered trasnsdermally, or through the skin, and in a consistent dose throughout the day. It's worn on the skin very much like a bandage and usually for about a 24 hour period.
How Can a NRT Help Me Quit Smoking?
Any NRT is designed to assist you when you decide to quit. You should not wear the patch and smoke cigarettes at the same time. Once you have put the cigarettes down for good, the NRT will still deliver the nicotine to the bloodstream, but without all the other 4,000 chemicals contained in the tobacco of your cigarettes.
In this way, you can break yourself of the habit of smoking while allowing your body a chance to wean off of the nicotine. The patches come in multiple sizes; larger patches have more nicotine and smaller ones have less. You can "step-down" your nicotine intake slowly, giving your body a chance to deal with the withdrawal in smaller doses. Quitting smoking is the important part. The chemicals in the tobacco products are highly dangerous and once you put the cigarettes down, your body can begin the process of repairing the damage caused by the act of smoking tobacco. Tobacco contains chemicals such as arsenic, formaldehyde, acetone, tar and carbon monoxide, which are all deadly in larger doses.
So, smoking for several years is essentially the same as poisoning your own body. With the NRT, you can still get the nicotine "fix" your body craves without subjecting your insides to these extremely toxic chemicals.
Make the Decision to Quit
Deciding to quit smoking is a huge step towards a healthier, happier lifestyle. Don't take it lightly; it's a very large mountain to climb. You should set a date to quit and plan a reward at your completion date to give you added motivation. And if cold turkey doesn't seem like something you can do, then look to the assistance that is available to you. The nicotine patch has helped many people achieve their non-smoking dreams and could possibly help you too.
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