Why Is Nicotine Addiction So Difficult To Quit?

One of the most difficult addictions to quit is nicotine or smoking. Smoking is taken up easily and equally difficult to quit. Many of you must have tried to reason it out with your father, fiancé, brother, husband etc. and would have got common answers like “I will, eventually” or “It is difficult”. How many of these people have actually tried quitting, before answering? I am sure barring a few; others have not and will not even give it a try.

What starts off as a fad among young people grows into an addiction later, which is so difficult to quit. A lot of people have tried to quit but cannot stay quitters for long. They do go back to their old habit and then try to convince themselves that they will try to reduce and eventually quit, but the day never comes. Smoking leads to depression, breathing problems, sometimes acute cases of asthma, bronchitis etc., blood pressure problems, heart problems etc. Many pregnant ladies, who cannot get rid of this addiction, put their baby’s lives in danger. If such babies survive, they develop problems later.

Not many know that people who are highly addicted to cigars, cigarettes, tobacco etc. die a premature death. Statistics have proved that these numbers are rising every year. The government has tried in its own way, by requesting people to think before they puff away a packet.  But is it enough? As long as smoking is not banned, it will continue in one way or the other. Apart from that, people have to be educated about the ill effects of smoking. You cannot stay ignorant about the dangers of smoking for long. It will depend solely on the will power of the people not to kick on such a habit. Remember, smoking is injurious to your health.

The Problem with Chewing Tobacco Addiction

Dunhill Early Morning Pipe Tobacco, 1990's Murray
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By now most everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking cigarettes, but is the same true for chewing tobacco addiction? It is quite common for a smoker to transfer that habit to another to ease the withdrawal from the first. However, trading one tobacco product for another does not make it any less deadly.

Some researchers believe that nicotine is the most addictive drug in the world. That is not hard to believe, considering how hard it is for smokers to quit.

Some smokers have quit by using chewing tobacco and other related products. A little pinch between the cheek and gum may seem innocent enough, but unfortunately, all that does is exchange one unhealthy habit for another.

The problem is in the nicotine and the byproducts of the chewing tobacco. Those believing they are dodging lung cancer by chewing instead of smoking are kidding themselves. Additionally, they are still facing possible mouth, tongue and throat cancer, as well as cancers in unrelated parts of the body. That is not a good trade.

Even beyond the deadly effects of chewing tobacco are the aesthetics. It is notorious for staining the teeth. Granted, a person can get their teeth cleaned, but chewing tobacco juice also rots the gums. Without gums, a chewer won’t have any teeth to stain.

Moreover, most bystanders would normally rather watch a user blow out smoke than spit out tobacco juice. However, that is a good deterrent to someone else kissing you should have an aversion to it.

The problem with chewing tobacco addiction is that it is not any better than having a smoking habit. Both of them are not only potentially nasty habits, but fatal as well. There is so much help available now for nicotine cessation that anyone who wants to quit does not have to go it alone.

Are E-Cigarettes for You?

Electronic Cigarettes
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They may not be for everyone, but for many smokers, e-cigarettes are much more than a craze. Whether they want to quit or not, many smokers are turning to or at least giving electronic cigarettes a try. There are ample reasons to consider these battery operated smoking devices.

For persons wanting to quit, the very fact that they are able to control their nicotine intake puts the power in their hands. Some e-cigarettes also come with cartridges that contain no nicotine at all. While not an official stop smoking aid, there is little doubt that being able to control nicotine levels is a step in the right direction.

Unlike real cigarettes, e-cigarettes can be used even in non-smoking zones, at least for the time being. There is no longer any need to leave the room if you need to have a smoke. There is no concern that family members will be affected by secondhand smoke. The vapor that is emitted quickly disappears into the air. So far there have been no reports that this mist has had any harmful effects.

Until proven otherwise, these electronic cigarettes are believed to be safer. This is because they do not contain the toxins and tar found in real cigarettes. It is widely believed that it is tar and toxic gases in cigarette that pose the most health risks. Research is currently being done to determine whether there are health risks associated with using e-cigarettes.

In this technology-driven world, e-cigs are a cooler way to go about smoking. They appeal to young people who want to smoke in social situations without harming their health. They can feel like part of the in-crowd without nicotine or harmful substances.

So while they may not be your thing, e-cigs are worth a second look at least. They may well change the way people go about quitting if that is their plan

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