You can come up with dozens of reasons to quit smoking without even thinking about it. Smoking is bad for your heart and your lungs and could put you in an early grave. Cancer is just one serious health concern in regard to smoking, as other possible health issues range from lupus to rheumatoid arthritis. It makes your teeth yellow and your clothes stink. There are fewer and fewer places to smoke, which makes it inconvenient at best. But you’ve probably tried to quit dozens of times, only to start again because of a life stress or other kind of trigger. There is hope, though, and some of the best products to help you quit smoking include nicotine patches, nicotine gum and prescription drugs like Chantix. Read on to learn about these top options that can help you kick the habit for good.
Top 3 Products for Quitting Smoking
- Nicotine patches
- Nicotine gum
- Chantix
Nicotine patches
Nicotine patches Like NicoDerm CQ help a lot of people who are trying to kick the habit by providing a steady amount of nicotine throughout the day. You start with higher levels of nicotine and then work down to lower and lower levels. Some people don’t like the patch because the nicotine comes steadily; smoking works completely opposite by giving you bursts of nicotine when you smoke. However, many people find the patches’ steady stream a comforting way to wean themselves off cigarettes. You don’t have to think about what you’re doing, because once you apply the patch in the morning you’re good for the rest of the day.
Highlights
- Only needs to be applied once per day
- Worn under clothing, the patch is private and unobtrusive
- Very low maintenance solution
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum like Nicorette also helps you to break the habit by using a safer way to bring nicotine into your body. Unlike the patch, gum doesn’t have to be chewed in a special place, so it’s a very convenient weight loss aid. For many people, chewing nicotine gum is better than using the patch because they can easily take in greater amounts of nicotine, up to a point, in order to deal with stress. The gum comes in a few different strengths, and works well for many people when coupled with behavioral support.
Highlights
- Gives you more control over your nicotine intake
- Provides the oral stimulation you miss from smoking
- Easy to bring anywhere
Chantix
As with the other stop smoking aids, Chantix is best used along with counseling and support groups. It comes in two different strengths. The active ingredient in Chantix is varenicline, which is a partial agonist at nicotine receptors. This means that anyone smoking while taking this drug will feel the effects of the nicotine less and less over time. That process I’m turns allows the user to go through withdrawal in a gentle way.
Highlights
- Gradual withdrawal
- Allows you to keep smoking at first
- Your mood stays more stable while quitting
Conclusion
There are many products which attempt to help people quit smoking, including nicotine patches, nicotine gum and prescription medicine. There are also apps which individuals use which help them keep track of cravings, irritability and usage. It is most important with all the methods to work with a health care professional.