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The Side Effects of Nicotine Patches
Nicotine patches can be remarkably effective in curbing withdrawal symptoms, but one should be informed about the side effects of nicotine patches as well as a bit about how they work with your body to overcome the desire to smoke or chew tobacco.
People who are trying to quit smoking often ask the question, "Do nicotine patches help you stop smoking?" Nicotine is the drug in tobacco to which people get addicted. When a person smokes, nicotine passes through the lungs into the blood, and creates an enjoyable feeling. Over time, however, it takes more and more cigarettes to get that feeling.
When a smoker quits they begin the process of withdrawal. The sudden cessation of nicotine in the body leads to any number of symptoms including depression, agitation, stress, insomnia or disrupted sleep, headache, weariness, hunger and dizziness. These symptoms make it very tempting to return to smoking. As an alternative a nicotine replacement can be considered.
The FDA has thus far approved five types of nicotine replacement therapy, including nicotine patches. So, do nicotine patches help you stop smoking? They can. Nicotine patches provide relief from withdrawal symptoms without the additional chemicals in cigarettes. Since physical withdrawal is one of the key factors in whether a person kicks the habit for good, there's a strong possibility that the nicotine patch will, indeed help you.
Nicotine patches also help ease cravings. They do not, however, address the mental level of addiction. Personal patterns need to change. For example, if you always smoked after a cup of coffee, you will likely need to fill that "hole" with something else to do so that a positive pattern develops.
There are conditions under which a person should not use the nicotine patch. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, nicotine patches may not be suitable for you. The side of effects of nicotine patches can cause great discomfort in some and put those with high-risk conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure in elevated danger. Consult a physician about the side effects of nicotine patches before buying any over the counter nicotine patches. Additionally, light smokers (those who smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day) may not find nicotine patches helpful. These people should also seek out their physician for a lower-dose alternative if they're having trouble quitting.Â
If you're planning to quit smoking, have your patches purchased beforehand. If you start nicotine replacement consecutively with quitting it increases the chance of success. Studies show that the longer a person waits for nicotine therapy, the more likely they are to go back to smoking.
How do nicotine patches help you stop smoking? Basically, the patch helps you quit by providing a steady level of nicotine to your body for the recommended time of 3-5 months. The patch has less nicotine than you'd get from a cigarette, and some products have the patches in a step program that slowly decreases the amount of nicotine you're getting from the patch. Better still, since the patch only has to be applied daily, it's convenient. If you have particularly strong cravings, a nicotine gum or lozenge can be periodically combined with the patch.
What about the side effects of nicotine patches?
Bear in mind that the side effects of nicotine patches including skin irritation, headache and disrupted sleep cycles. For this reason, it's important not to smoke when using a nicotine patch, as doing so increases the side effects of nicotine patches. Also if you find you're having problems related to nicotine patch side effects, consider using a lower dose patch, or a different brand.
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For more on the side effects of nicotine patches and other smoking cessation topics, check out the EnvyMyHealth.com Quit Smoking Channel!
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