Stop Smoking

Addiction to smoking makes you susceptible to a range of serious health issues. Studies indicate that smoking takes away many years from your life. Each whiff of the smoke that you take inside is actually damaging your body in many different ways.

Smoking and related health issues<

The fact that smoking causes various breathing problems and lung cancer is common knowledge. But, very few people are aware that smoking is also linked to heart disease. Both men and women suffer from heart disease that is directly linked to smoking. As you continue to smoke cigarettes your heart continues to weaken. Smoking decreases the oxygen received by the heart and also increases the heart rate and blood pressure. The smoke damages the coronary arteries and various other blood vessels. This increases your risk of strokes and heart attacks. Studies indicate that heart disease holds first place as the number one killer for smokers. This is followed by lung cancer and emphysema.

Medications for quitting smoking

There are medications that help you quit smoking. These are prescription medications that help ease the withdrawal symptoms linked to smoking cessation. Some of these medications also take away the pleasure linked to smoking. Medicines like Champix and Zyban are the commonly prescribed medications for quitting smoking. Champix works by attaching to the nicotine receptors in the brain, blocking nicotine from reaching these receptors. It also partially stimulates these receptors to release dopamine. So at one end, it reduces the pleasure one gets from smoking; at the same time it also replicates the effect of nicotine in a limited manner.

There are other options like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and herbal pills whose intake is also known to be effective. But these cannot be categorized as medications. When it comes to NRTs they replace the nicotine that your body was otherwise getting from cigarettes. As far as herbal medications are concerned, they work by improving the all round health of your body.

Smoking cessation medication and precautions

When you are taking prescription medications, you always need to be aware of certain precautions related to these medications. The same thing can be said for prescription smoking cessation medications. There are certain common side effects linked to the intake of a medication like Champix including nausea, constipation, gas, vomiting and sleep problems. Some serious side effects linked to these quit smoking medications include suicidal behaviour, depression, anger and hostility.

Certain people might be allergic to the ingredients in these medications. Such people should not take these medications. Also, if the side effects are persistent, the doctor should be called immediately. Medications like Champix work differently for different people. So, it’s important to know and understand its effect before driving or using heavy machinery. Before you are prescribed these smoking medications, it’s important to apprise your doctor of your current intake of medications and also your medical history. This will help your doctor know for sure whether Champix is the right medication for you or not.