<p>According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-2010, there are 120 million smokers in India, of which 47 per cent want to kick the butt. Some, while attempting to quit, may adopt the cold turkey method while others resort to the various smoking cessation therapies and treatments available. While there are many smoking cessation products available in the market, not all are effective or safe. Before making the decision to go with one particular therapy, the smoker ought to make an informed choice based on scientific research. While some products may cause unintended health problems, others may be ineffective in dealing with nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms and helping with the cessation process in any significant manner. <br /><br />Varenicline-based products <br /><br />These are nicotinic receptor partial agonist smoking cessation products that work by reducing the craving and decreasing the pleasurable effect of tobacco. This non-nicotine-based prescription drug blocks the nicotine from reaching the receptors in the brain and is therefore able to help smokers quit. While this treatment has been found to be effective, there are reported side effects. These may range from the milder ones like nausea, headache, sleeping problems, abnormal dreams, vomiting and abdominal pain to the more serious ones like neuropsychiatric symptoms, behavioural alterations, agitation, depression, suicidal tendencies.<br /><br />E-cigarettes <br /><br />These electronic devices are often advertised as an aid for cessation. They look designed like real cigarettes and upon use, the smoker feels like he is smoking an actual cigarette. They produce an inhaled mist that tastes like and has the same nicotine content as a tobacco cigarette. The gel inside these e-cigarettes uses heat to transform itself into a nicotine mist that the smoker inhales. This way, the smoker satisfies his oral fixation as well as his nicotine craving. There is a lack of scientific evidence for either the effectiveness or safety of this product. So far no well-recognised public health organisation has endorsed its use as a cessation device.<br /><br />Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)<br /><br />This is the most popular and effective smoking cessation product used globally and is a WHO-recommended therapy to overcome tobacco addiction. NRT involves an alternate nicotine delivery method in the form of a patch, chewing gum, lozenge etc. that helps a person replace the nicotine obtained from smoking. This helps a person overcome withdrawal symptoms once he quits smoking and doubles the chances of success. <br />Usually a 12-week course of this treatment is recommended to avoid a relapse. <br />Combining different forms of NRT products like a patch and chewing gum may be effective for some persons in increasing the abstinence rate and remain smoke-free. NRT as clean therapeutic nicotine in gums, lozenges and other forms, has been clinically shown to be well-tolerated among smokers and can be considered as a safe cessation aid.<br /><br />Hypnotherapy<br /><br />There is no scientific research to prove the effectiveness of this therapy. After inducing a state of hypnosis by following certain instructions, the hypnotherapist instructs the smoker to quit the habit. This hypnotic suggestion is supposed to reache the smoker’s sub-conscious mind, thus enabling him to give up the addiction. While there are many tall claims made about this therapy there is little in terms of scientific evidence to establish its credibility and success rate. <br /><br />It’s important to make the right choice of smoking cessation product to increase your chances of succeeding at kicking the butt and to ensure you do not cause any further adverse effects on your body.</p>
<p>According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-2010, there are 120 million smokers in India, of which 47 per cent want to kick the butt. Some, while attempting to quit, may adopt the cold turkey method while others resort to the various smoking cessation therapies and treatments available. While there are many smoking cessation products available in the market, not all are effective or safe. Before making the decision to go with one particular therapy, the smoker ought to make an informed choice based on scientific research. While some products may cause unintended health problems, others may be ineffective in dealing with nicotine-withdrawal-symptoms and helping with the cessation process in any significant manner. <br /><br />Varenicline-based products <br /><br />These are nicotinic receptor partial agonist smoking cessation products that work by reducing the craving and decreasing the pleasurable effect of tobacco. This non-nicotine-based prescription drug blocks the nicotine from reaching the receptors in the brain and is therefore able to help smokers quit. While this treatment has been found to be effective, there are reported side effects. These may range from the milder ones like nausea, headache, sleeping problems, abnormal dreams, vomiting and abdominal pain to the more serious ones like neuropsychiatric symptoms, behavioural alterations, agitation, depression, suicidal tendencies.<br /><br />E-cigarettes <br /><br />These electronic devices are often advertised as an aid for cessation. They look designed like real cigarettes and upon use, the smoker feels like he is smoking an actual cigarette. They produce an inhaled mist that tastes like and has the same nicotine content as a tobacco cigarette. The gel inside these e-cigarettes uses heat to transform itself into a nicotine mist that the smoker inhales. This way, the smoker satisfies his oral fixation as well as his nicotine craving. There is a lack of scientific evidence for either the effectiveness or safety of this product. So far no well-recognised public health organisation has endorsed its use as a cessation device.<br /><br />Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)<br /><br />This is the most popular and effective smoking cessation product used globally and is a WHO-recommended therapy to overcome tobacco addiction. NRT involves an alternate nicotine delivery method in the form of a patch, chewing gum, lozenge etc. that helps a person replace the nicotine obtained from smoking. This helps a person overcome withdrawal symptoms once he quits smoking and doubles the chances of success. <br />Usually a 12-week course of this treatment is recommended to avoid a relapse. <br />Combining different forms of NRT products like a patch and chewing gum may be effective for some persons in increasing the abstinence rate and remain smoke-free. NRT as clean therapeutic nicotine in gums, lozenges and other forms, has been clinically shown to be well-tolerated among smokers and can be considered as a safe cessation aid.<br /><br />Hypnotherapy<br /><br />There is no scientific research to prove the effectiveness of this therapy. After inducing a state of hypnosis by following certain instructions, the hypnotherapist instructs the smoker to quit the habit. This hypnotic suggestion is supposed to reache the smoker’s sub-conscious mind, thus enabling him to give up the addiction. While there are many tall claims made about this therapy there is little in terms of scientific evidence to establish its credibility and success rate. <br /><br />It’s important to make the right choice of smoking cessation product to increase your chances of succeeding at kicking the butt and to ensure you do not cause any further adverse effects on your body.</p>
