Cigarettes as we know them, are a cylindrical roll of ground tobacco that is rolled or wrapped in paper or other substance intended to be smoked. They are highly addictive because of the nicotine that they contain which hurt the addict. Smoking has a lot of consequences which include the following; it enlarges the airways, making the smoker/addict to breathe in more deeply and drops larger levels of tar in the lungs. Smoking cigarettes can harm nearly every organ of the body and this causes the deaths of more than 400,000 people each year in the United States and research has revealed that it causes losses of more life than HIV, illegal drugs use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, firearm-related incidents altogether. Smokers are at risk of having cancer either in the bladder, blood, cervix, liver, kidney, stomach, oropharynx and lung. Smokers also experience symptoms of sickness related to cigarette smoking among other negative effects.
It is very difficult to quit smoking without help (which includes nicotine patches) because the nicotine in the cigarettes alters the balance of two chemicals in the brain known as noradrenaline and dopamine. As these chemical levels increase in the brain, it changes the smoker’s mood which he enjoys while having a feeling of pleasure, excitement and stress removed. The higher nicotine is being consumed the more the brain depends on it and this means that the smoker would need to keep consuming more cigarettes in order to achieve the same satisfaction. Quitting can lead to having feelings of depression, anxiety, bitterness or irritation, Almost all smokers at one point of their addiction want to quit after realising the dangers attached to their habit but they usually fail because nicotine cravings can be extremely strong, making it difficult to quit with just their willpower.
This is why there is need to get the help of nicotine patches. Nicotine patches are transdermal patches that release nicotine into the body through the skin. It is used in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a process for cessing smoking. Nicotine patches gives the smoker a smoking feel. It is approved and endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration, it is considered one of the safe NRTs yet available. The nicotine patch supplies a stable dose of nicotine for a period of time, this reduces the effects of withdrawing nicotine and allows the addict to get rid off of nicotine gradually.
Nicotine patches should be applied on a dry, very clean, dry, and hairless part of the skin which will absorb the nicotine into the body. It is bad to use nicotine patches and smoke altogether because this would lead to overdose of the nicotine present in the body and it could cause dizziness, upset stomach, vomiting, drooling, bad headaches, cold sweats, blurred vision, confusion, hearing problems. Like other therapies, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) there is a need to have a doctor to assist in the usage of the nicotine patches as there can be cases of complications or abuse like itching, tingling in the area where the patch is placed, this may leave within an hour or two and is because of nicotine being placed on the skin. Redness and swelling at the patch area can also be a complication. Other complications are dizziness, vomiting and headache.
It is no doubt, to quit smoking, you should buy nicotine patches.