Post Date April, 15 2023
Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking - increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases, not to mention unpleasant smells and yellow fingers and teeth.
Why do you still smoke? Because it's addictive, because it's difficult to quit.
Why is smoking so addictive?
Smoking is a very addictive thing: nicotine enters the brain, binds to nicotine receptors, and triggers the secretion of dopamine, a substance that makes people feel happy, making smokers feel comfortable.
When nicotine is metabolized, dopamine levels drop, and withdrawal reactions occur, making it natural to want to smoke another cigarette.
Many people feel that smoking can invigorate people. But this is actually an illusion. "Because when you are in a withdrawal state when you are not smoking, you may feel mentally and uncomfortable.". Smoking simply restores smokers to their "normal" state.
Quitting smoking requires will
It's not that those who want to quit smoking are bound to succeed, but those who don't really want to quit smoking are bound to fail.
There have been studies in this area:
A person who completely does not use any help to quit smoking has a success rate of only 10%, and needs to quit 14 times on average to succeed.
And the definition of "success" is very vague. Many people have not smoked for many years, and if they accidentally relapse, they will soon return to their previous levels.
Many people say that nothing is more difficult than quitting smoking.
Nicotine can change the number and function of some receptors such as nicotine in the body. For smokers, smelling the smell of tobacco can still have special memories.
Therefore, quitting smoking is not just a temporary matter, it requires long-term and unremitting efforts to control oneself.
Means of quitting smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking, and currently there is evidence to support it, mainly through smoking cessation patches and other nicotine replacement drugs, as well as psychological treatment. As for laser, hypnosis, acupuncture and moxibustion, electronic smoke and other therapies, there is no hard evidence to support their effectiveness.
1. Drug cessation
Studies have shown that nicotine substitutes and bupropion sustained-release tablets can double the success rate of quitting smoking to about 20%. If combined with psychological treatment, the success rate of smoking cessation can reach 30%.
These drugs are prescription drugs and need to be used under the guidance of a doctor. Friends in need can go to hospitals for specialized consultation. Currently, many hospitals have launched smoking cessation clinics.
2. Nicotine patch
Nicotine patches, or smoking cessation patches, are also one of the auxiliary means to help stop smoking.
Regarding the use of smoking cessation stickers, it is important to use sufficient doses and choose the right product.
Let's start with the dose.
The principle of smoking cessation patches is simply to slowly release nicotine into the body through nicotine patches on the skin, thereby alleviating withdrawal symptoms and helping smokers successfully navigate through the stage of quitting smoking.
Nicotine patches are often divided into three types: 21 mg, 14 mg, and 7 mg. Many people use smoking cessation stickers and find them ineffective because the dose is insufficient. Generally speaking, one milligram is equivalent to one cigarette. The maximum dose of a smoking cessation patch is 21 milligrams. If a person smokes one pack a day, they can apply a 21 milligram patch.
Of course, specific to individuals, everyone metabolizes nicotine at different speeds and has a poor physique, which requires appropriate adjustment.
If too much, it can lead to nicotine poisoning, with symptoms typically nausea, dizziness, and brain distension; If you still want to smoke regularly after pasting, you can consider increasing the dose.
Let's talk about the product.
Select qualified products with clear dosage and guaranteed quality. Nicotine patches are over the counter drugs. If you are unsure, it is recommended to go to a doctor to prescribe them. Also, don't be credulous about propaganda such as "pure natural extracts, no side effects.".
Generally, it takes at least 4 to 12 weeks to use smoking cessation stickers. Moreover, even with the use of assistive means, there may still be times when tobacco addiction arises.
Therefore, to quit smoking, it is necessary to be mentally prepared and plan what to do if the addiction arises: drinking water, exercising, playing with computers, sipping melon seeds, and chewing gum. You need to slowly explore ways to help yourself quit smoking.
