Combat your smoke cravings

We all know that smoking is bad for health; we all are aware of the short-term and the long-term health problems caused by smoking; yet we continue to smoke. In the UK, about 106,000 people die every year due to smoking-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke contains about 60 substances that can cause cancer. If you are a smoker, your life-expectancy is about 10 years lesser than that of a non-smoker. The main cause of death in half of all smokers is smoking-related diseases. People who suffer from smoking problems have several years of distressing symptoms and illness.

Brain receptors

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances. It changes the chemical structure and function of brain. Nicotine affects certain receptors in the brain to produce physical and mood-altering effects. It also causes release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which gives a feeling of pleasure. As a result, brain gets addicted for the same stimulus to get  the same pleasure. Since brain receptors are unable to block these pleasure signals, it becomes difficult to control the nicotine craving.

How can you control smoke urges?

If you are a regular smoker, when nicotine level in your blood falls, you usually experience withdrawal symptoms such as smoke cravings, headaches, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness. These smoke cravings sometimes are very hard to overcome with your willpower alone.

Nicotine replacement therapy: It helps you quit smoking without experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. It comes in the forms of gum, patch, nasal spray, and inhaler. Nicotine is released in the bloodstream in small amounts. In this way, without smoking cigarettes you can get nicotine in your body to relieve your withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, the amount of nicotine is reduced to curb the addiction. Some of the common side effects associated with nicotine replacement therapy are headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Nicotine patches can cause skin irritation and rashes. Also, nicotine nasal spray can cause sore throat, sneezing, and runny nose.

Champix - An easy way to quit smoking

Champix is the FDA-approved medication designed to help smokers quit smoking. Varenicline tartrate, the active ingredient in Champix, work by attaching itself to nicotine receptors in brain. It stops these receptors from responding to nicotine. As a result, there is no release of dopamine and no feeling of pleasure. This makes smoking displeasing and you do not get any enjoyable effect out of smoking. This way, Champix can help you reduce your nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

A few mild-to-moderate side effects are associated with Champix. These side effects are treatable and reversible, which means that once your body adjusts to the medication or  you discontinue taking it, you experience no side effects. Safety and efficacy of Champix outweighs the mild side effects associated with it. Champix does not contain nicotine, which makes it one of the most preferred medications for smoking cessation. It is never too late to stop smoking to live a healthy life.

Smoking cessation timeline

Have you ever wondered what if you quit smoking now? How will your body react to the absence of nicotine? How will you feel mentally knowing that you have just had your last cigarette? Smoking cessation is not a trivial issue, as you would probably admit after making several failed attempts to quit smoking. But you may be amazed to know that with the passing of each tobacco-free moment after your last cigarette, your health will improve from good to better. Let's have a look at what you can expect after quitting.

After 20 minutes
 

You will feel the first benefit of quitting just 20 minutes after you had your last cigarette. Your blood pressure and pulse rate will become normal, so will your body temperature of hands and feet.

After 8 hours 

Had your last cigarette last night at bedtime? After a 8-hour sleep, you will feel better as carbon monoxide level in blood will come down to normal and oxygen level will increase to normal.

After a day
 

It's been 24 hours you haven't touched your pack of Marlboro or Winston and great news is awaiting you – your risk of getting a heart attack has lessened significantly.

After 2 days 

This is when you will be most likely to feel irritable and restless for nicotine. Known as nicotine withdrawal symptoms, people have to get through the toughest period a couple of days after they quit. By this time, your damaged nerve endings will start to regrow and your sense of smell and taste will be better than before.

Champix can be a good choice for you if you want to successfully cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This prescription medicine has varenicline tartrate as its active ingredient. It regulates the release of a chemical called dopamine in the brain and kills all the good feelings that you can relate back to smoking. The trick is to start taking Champix a week before you set your quit date. So a couple of days after you stop smoking, you may find it easy to overcome the withdrawal symptoms.

After 3 days 

The withdrawal symptoms may continue to increase and you may have to put up a fight with your mind and ego to justify the decision you took 3 days back. Having said that, you will be able to taste your favourite delicacies better and get relief from bad breath.

After 4 days 

More health benefits will come your way 4 days after you quit smoking. Your throat and lungs will start getting cleared from nicotine tars. Your body too will start getting detoxified, giving you a happy and healthy feeling. But you may still have to continue fighting with physical withdrawal symptoms such as constipation, headache and general discomfort.

After 2 weeks 

Now is the time to say that you have reached a stage where you do not have any physical reasons to start smoking again. Your energy level will rise drastically – you can take the stairs instead of lift without grasping for breath; you will be able to perform hard physical labour and your immunity will increase.

After months 

If you can stay tobacco-free for 3-6 months, your cravings for nicotine will slowly subside. Even an odd temptation to smoke at the office party or in a friend's place won't make you feel that you are dependent on nicotine.

First smoking cessation anniversary    

A year after you quit smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease will reduce considerably. Plenty of other benefits will also be there for you to appreciate and enjoy.