That smoking is a bad habit,even children know. And a huge number of smokers try to get rid of nicotine addiction in all conceivable and inconceivable ways. However, unfortunately, quitting smoking is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. When a person just starts smoking, he thinks that he will be able to quit immediately, as soon as he wants. However, in reality, everything is not so simple - a cigarette puff turns out to be as necessary as air. Why does smoking cause such an addiction? And is it really possible to quit smoking? These are the questions we will try to figure out today.
Principle of formation of nicotine addiction
Any addiction, including nicotine,is formed according to the same principle. Substances that form any addiction in a person have a certain psychoactive property. If we take nicotine as a basis, an example of such a property is obvious - the first time after smoking a cigarette, a person's mood rises, he feels a surge of strength and vigor. At first, a person continues to smoke in order to experience those pleasant sensations again. However, very soon this effect of nicotine on the human body disappears. A person tries to give up a cigarette and understands that he cannot do this. Without a cigarette, a person feels inferior, he enters the first stage of nicotine addiction - psychological. A person continues to smoke for some time, after which he tries to make another attempt to give up cigarettes. However, the smoker is surprised to discover that without nicotine, he experiences not just psychological discomfort, but a real malaise. A person develops the so-called withdrawal syndrome, or, as doctors call it, abstinence. It includes such symptoms as:
- Feeling of nausea, in severe cases, even the appearance of vomiting.
- Feeling of general weakness, fast fatigue.
- Tremor of the chin or hands.
- Neurological disorders, such as a sleep disorder or uncaused irritability.
A person can experience quite severea feeling of general malaise that is eliminated by just one cigarette. It goes without saying that in such a situation it is very, very difficult to voluntarily give up smoking. This is how the next stage of addiction develops – physical. Many people are extremely frivolous about nicotine, considering it absolutely harmless. In fact, nicotine very quickly becomes an integral part of all metabolic processes occurring in the body. The body, accustomed to receiving a daily dose of nicotine, begins to experience severe malaise without it. But, at the same time, nicotine has a fairly strong toxic effect on the smoker's body. It turns out to be a kind of vicious circle, which is not so easy to break. Today, doctors - narcologists - yes, yes, they are the ones who help people quit smoking - consider a nicotine patch to be the best way out.
Action of nicotine patches
The nicotine patch works as follows:way: it contains a certain dose of nicotine. This nicotine penetrates the body through the pores in the skin, thereby significantly reducing the withdrawal syndrome. Gradually, over time, the psychological craving for cigarettes disappears. However, it should be noted that the nicotine patch will be effective only if a person really wants to get rid of nicotine addiction. After nicotine is absorbed into the blood, its concentration is maximum after about 6 hours. This nicotine is excreted with feces, urine and air exhaled by a person. This nicotine is practically not associated with blood plasma proteins. Thus, this nicotine does not have a negative effect on the human body in any way. In addition, this patch can be used simultaneously with various medications. Such a patch is effective for 16 hours, after which its effect is significantly weakened. This is done intentionally, because at night, during sleep, the human body does not receive nicotine, since the person does not smoke.
Indications and contraindications to the use of plaster
Those who have used the nicotine patch leave the most favorable reviews about it. Using this patch is very useful if:
- It is necessary to get rid of physical nicotine addiction in those people who are trying to quit smoking.
- A person wants to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
However, we should not forget that, despite the huge number of positive qualities, this adhesive plaster also has some contraindications for use:
- Individual intolerance of these or those components of the plaster.
- Breastfeeding baby.
Also in some cases the use of a patchis possible only after a preliminary consultation with the attending physician. This concerns those people who suffer from chronic kidney diseases, liver diseases, gastric ulcers, serious diseases of the cardiovascular system. Many women are interested in whether it is permissible to use a nicotine patch during pregnancy. Of course, the expectant mother should consult her attending physician - gynecologist on this issue. However, undoubtedly, despite the fact that the nicotine patch is more expensive than cigarettes, it brings much less harm to the body of the mother and the future child. And in general, you must agree, smoking is not a habit that decorates any person, and especially a woman. And smoking, alas, does not add health to anyone, it only takes it away. Therefore, as the famous song goes: "Think for yourself, decide for yourself ...", is it worth continuing to smoke, or still try to get rid of this habit! We advise you to read: