Tuesday 21 June 2011

Smoking and Health

Smoking and Health never go hand-in-hand. ‘Nicotine’ – the major content in cigarettes, affects heart and lungs. It increases the probability of heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and cancer; particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth and pancreatic cancer. Nicotine causes physical and psychological dependencies. The decrease of nicotine level in the blood causes withdrawal symptoms like headache, anxiety, nausea and a craving for more tobacco.

A number of Stop smoking medication is now available in the market to help quit smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a method of inducing nicotine into the body without smoking. It helps to deal with withdrawal symptoms and cravings while cessation of smoking. Several products of NRT are available like nicotine patch, inhaler, nasal spray, gum, sublingual tablet and lozenge. NRT only helps to damp down the urge to smoke rather than stopping nicotine altogether.


Herbal quit smoking remedies are now preferred over drug based remedies because of their nature. Herbs are neither habit forming nor addictive. They instead act as nutritional supplements. They help both the physical and mental health of the patient and are known to be very effective. Herbal remedies are generally a combination of two or more herbs. The combination of herbs not only helps reduce smoking but can also help to cleanse and balance the body after continuous cigarette smoking.

A slight change in ones lifestyle and attitude can also help to quit smoking. It is ultimately the mindset and will power of the smoker that makes all the difference.