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How Do Nicotine Patches Work?

Posted on Oct 03, 2011
Author: Susan Roberts

The nicotine patch is iconic of stopping smoking. Without having to worry about chewing nicotine gum throughout the day, slapping one of the patches helps the user quit smoking by delivering a preset amount of nicotine throughout the day.

So, how does it work? The outer ring of the patch is an adhesive, which keeps the patch attached to the skin. The inside contains a time-release dose of nicotine.

When applied, the nicotine is absorbed through the skin and provides relief from the physical withdrawal symptoms of smoking cessation. You also get the added "benefit" of really bizarre dreams if you fall asleep while wearing it. They make patches that are designed to release their dose during the day, and be removed at night, but those don't help with physical withdrawal for most smokers who light up first thing in the morning, as the patch takes a few hours to reach full intensity.

Depending on how heavy of a smoker you are, there are two starting dosage levels for the nicotine patch: 21mg and 14mg, delivered throughout the day. Heavier smokers (around 1 pack per day) starts with the 21mg patch, less frequent smokers start with the 14mg patch.

Supposedly, as you become less addicted to smoking, you can slowly decrease the dose until you no longer need the patch. Annoyingly, this doesn't actually seem to work in practice. Studies have shown that only 7% of smokers using nicotine replacement products manage to quit for six months or more. 7% is not a very reassuring statistic.

That might be great and all, but you don't want to have to stick patches on for a month, and that 7% thing probably doesn't quite do it for you!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/how-do-nicotine-patches-work-977853.html

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Want to take back control of your life from cigarettes right now? Take a look at the EasyQuit System for a great guide on how you can quit without feeling intense withdrawal or spending a fortune on patches! the nicotine patch - how does it work

How And Why You Should Get Free Nicotine Patches

Posted on Sep 02, 2011
Author: Al Smitty

You can now reduce cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms with the help of Free Nicotine Patches. This improves your likelihood of quitting by 50%. Each state in the USA has a quit line, which offers free nicotine lozenges, patches and gum.

By quitting smoking, you can reduce your risk of strokes, cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus by half. Numerous other conditions are prevented when you quit smoking, such as peripheral artery disease, bladder cancer, ulcers, cervical cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many more.

Whilst nicotine is the main ingredient of cigarettes, they also contain carcinogens and a variety of other harmful chemicals. Some of these chemicals are used to embalm deceased bodies. Cigarette smoke is one of the leading causes of death and accounts for a fifth of the deaths in America each year.

People smoke because nicotine releases dopamind, a pleasure chemical that creates a happy state of mind. The body wants more of this soon after you put down your first cigarette.

Nicotine free patches mimic the actions of the nicotine by acting on the body's nicotine receptors. The body is fooled into thinking that it is receiving nicotine and it keeps the body calm during the withdrawal process. In essence, nicotine patches fight the three biggest difficulties faced by smokers and those wishing to quit: nicotine addiction, withdrawal symptoms and nicotine intoxication.

The patches contain ingredients that are natural and satisfy cravings for nicotine without the side effects of nicotine. To quit this way will require less will power from you. Symptoms of withdrawal will be a lot milder as the nicotine levels of your system will decrease gradually over time.

Some patches contain antioxidants that will detoxify your system, eliminate the stored nicotine from your system to reduce cravings. The harmful side effects from smoking will gradually disappear when you no longer smoke at all.

Active ingredients from the patch penetrate the skin and reach the bloodstream faster than is possible with other methods. Lozenges and tablets are digested by the stomach and in that process they lose their efficacy. Therefore they have to be taken often during the day.

The nicotine patch is not addictive, in fact it aids addiction by taking away both the nicotine and the dependency. Many people notice a reduction in nicotine cravings within ten to fifteen days.

Each patch can be worn for a couple of days, usually three days. It is placed on a hairless part of your skin. You will be able to continue with your life as always when you are wearing the patch as it has been devised using a special adhesive technology which allows you to sleep, swim, workout and live life.

Results vary from person to person. You may have to consult your doctor before you start on a nicotine patch program.

If you smoke while you are on the program, you may experience side effects such as dizziness or nausea. To access Free Nicotine Patches, visit your state's Smoker's Quitline, which is usually run by the local Health Department.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/how-and-why-you-should-get-free-nicotine-patches-2397222.html

About the Author

Al Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from nicotine chewing gums to American football. Thanks for reading!

What If You Exercise While Using Nicotine Patch?

Posted on Aug 30, 2011
Author: Andy Lim

Smokers who want to quit smoking may use nicotine patch to relieve themselves from the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine patch only has one-third of nicotine usually found in cigarette smoke. So, it can help you to reduce your dependence on nicotine. But what if you exercise while using a nicotine patch? Will it cause any complications?

First, you need to understand how the patch works. Nicotine patch is available in three dosages: 21mg, 14mg, and 7mg. Its objective is to reduce the consumption level of nicotine gradually over time, usually in a period of 12 weeks. When you apply the patch on your skin, the nicotine will enter your blood stream through the skin. You will begin to cut down the dosage according to the schedule as advised by your doctor. Then you stop completely at the end of the treatment period.

Exercise can provide many health benefits. In quitting smoking, exercise can reduce stress and help to shed off unwanted weight. Many smokers fear weight gain when they stop smoking. To convince yourself that exercise can improve your health, especially after quitting smoking, record your resting pulse on the day you quit. Monitor your pulse again after six weeks. You will notice a sharp drop in your pulse. This means there's improvement in your heart.

Recently, an Austrian research concluded that regular exercise can help smokers using nicotine patch to quit smoking. In the study which involves 68 subjects, 80% of the participants who exercise remained smoke free at the end of three months compared to 52% who didn't exercise.

However, some researches believe that strenuous exercise can lead to nicotine toxicity. When you exercise, your skin temperature increases, your blood vessels expand, and your circulation improves. This will double the absorption of nicotine from the patch into the blood stream. As a result, you may suffer from a heart attack.

The two missing elements in the Austrian study are: do the participants who exercise have their patches applied and how strenuous are the exercises performed. Since no studies can confirm this concern, it is suggested that smokers remove the patches two hours before engaging in any strenuous exercise.

If you plan to use nicotine patch, your chances of quitting will be higher when combined with regular exercise. Just remember to take the patch out before you start the exercise. Daily exercise can help you to ease the withdrawal symptoms. You should consult with your doctor before you begin this program. Your doctor can help you to plan a schedule to reduce the dosage of nicotine patch.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-if-you-exercise-while-using-nicotine-patch-71897.html

About the Author
Andy Lim believes that every one can quit smoking if they truly want to. You can stop smoking today. More quit smoking tips at www.DeadlyPuff.com and his smoking cessation blog today.

The Way You Use Nicotine Patch

Posted on Aug 24, 2011
Author: fakhrul

One of the most widely used and trusted stop smoking aids out on the market today is the nicotine patch, as these nicotine patch work well to the people who wishes to stop smoking. Nicotine patch is a kind of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) that has proven its rate of success repeatedly. When utilized correctly, the nicotine patch can effectively lessen the severity of symptoms of withdrawal, reduce relapse risk and drastically improve confidence.

The nicotine patch physically decrease the signs and symptoms of withdrawal by giving a gradual dose of nicotine to its user, as unlike traditional smoking cigarette that causes nicotine rush followed by a dramatic sudden drop. Employing this nicotine patch, provides the user to slowly reduce nicotine intake by moving throughout the different steps or stages of the nicotine patch.

You will discover three various strengths normally for nicotine patches, given that the starting amount rely basically relating to the quantity of cigarettes smoked every day by the individual just before stopping. A 21 mg nicotine patch is ideal for those typical heavy smokers who are able to smoke or consume a pack of cigarettes or even more each day. For moderate or light smokers, 14 mg nicotine patch is usually recommended. After a period of 3 to 4 weeks, the nicotine patch user switches the patch to the next strength. A 7 mg nicotine patch certainly is the last dosage or strength available among the three patches. This patch is used by those below moderate or light smokers, because it is likewise the final dose that the heavy smokers can use around one week or more. Then, the nicotine patch user stop using the patches completely feeling different.

The nicotine patch can be applied or placed on a dry clean skin, which is totally free of oil, moist, and hair everyday, as it depends on the personal preference from the user as well as with the kind of the nicotine patch used. The nicotine patch is often worn for a minimum time period of 16 hours everyday, as it can also be left on the skin for 24-hour timeframe. The nicotine within the patch is steadily absorbed from the skin and into the body, getting into the blood circulation system so that you can ease or alleviates the the signs of withdrawal.

The nicotine patch is really good at reducing the harshness of physical withdrawal symptoms additionally, the cravings of the user. However, it does not completely get rid of the social or psychological effects of quitting smoking. Although, lots of nicotine patch users find social and psychological triggers simple to manage if symptoms of physical withdrawal are decreased. Using the nicotine patch allow lots of people to concentrate or focus to stop smoking minus the physical discomfort.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-way-you-use-nicotine-patch-5174716.html

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Imagin if you can not stop smoking?

I know how tough it is to stop smoking. Dependent on nicotine push you to an issue that all you can think is to smoke. When you want to to stop smoking you'll want to learn this tips to quit smoking. You can try to read articles on how to quit smoking naturally, or just check out this natural quit smoking.

Nicotine Patches And Gum To Quit Smoking

Posted on Aug 03, 2011
Author: R. Michael Stone

People think that to quit smoking, all they need to do is to replace the nicotine provided by the cigarette. There are a number of products on the market, many over the counter, that give an ample supply of replacement nicotine. However, they aren't very effective. The reason people continue to smoke is due to the Psychological Smoking Mechanism, not a need for nicotine.

In this article, we will look at some research on the effectiveness of nicotine patches and gum.

=====>  The Nicotine Model of Smoking

Back in the 1990's, nicotine got labeled as a highly addictive substance. It was blamed for the reason people find it hard to quit smoking. Yet, cigarette smoking does not fit the definition of a chemical addiction.

In the nicotine model, craving nicotine is what keeps a person smoking. It followed that if nicotine could be provided from a source other than cigarettes, the smoker would not crave cigarettes. Thus, the person would quit smoking cigarettes by replacing the source of nicotine with a nicotine patch or nicotine gum. Then, the new source of nicotine could be gradually reduced over time until the smoker's "addiction" to nicotine was removed.

This would be a nice, simple solution if nicotine was the real driving force to smoke cigarettes. However, if there is some other reason people smoke, such as the Psychological Smoking Mechanism, supplying nicotine will not be an effective substitute. Let's look at some research on the effectiveness of nicotine patches and gum.

=====>  The Research

Two products that follow the chemical addiction model of cigarette smoking are nicotine patches and nicotine gum. They are superb products and do just what they say; they give a very ample supply of nicotine. Since the smoker is getting generous amounts of nicotine, which they are supposedly craving, the patches should be incredibly effective and remove the desire for a cigarette. But how effective are they?

Some research shows, (Davidson, M., Epstein, M., Burt, R., Schaefer, C., Whitworth, G. & McDonald, A. (1998)), only 19% of people on nicotine patches had stopped smoking at six weeks and it was reduced to 9.2% at six months. Looking at it another way, at 6 weeks, 81% of the people using nicotine patches were still smoking and at 6 months, about 91% were still smoking. Yes, 10% of those that had stopped were back at it again.

The results for the gum was about the same. Even though the gum was providing the smoker with plenty of nicotine, at 6 weeks, 84% of the people were still smoking and at 6 months, 92% were smoking.

The research showed that the 8% - 9% of the people who had quit smoking using the nicotine patches and gum were highly motivated to quit smoking! In other words, they were removing their Psychological Smoking Mechanism.

=====>  A Real Life Example

A radio host was interviewing me about the Psychological Smoking Mechanism and in the course of the interview he told me that he was an ex-smoker. He said  he had used nicotine gum to quit and it had taken him two years until he was finally off of cigarettes. TWO YEARS!

Think about that for a moment. The nicotine gum was providing a large supply of nicotine just as it is designed to do. Yet, this man was smoking AND chewing the nicotine gum. In other words, the gum, loaded with nicotine was not substituting for the cigarette as it theoretical should have done.

Since the man wanted to quit, he finally stopped after two years. But it wasn't the gum, it was him changing his Psychological Smoking Mechanism without even realizing consciously what he was doing. Just like the 8% - 9% of the people in the research study mentioned above.

Nicotine is Not the Motivator to Smoke

The amount of nicotine a smoker gets in one cigarette is very small. Compare the cigarette to your body mass; it's tiny and so is the amount of nicotine it contains.

However, these very effective nicotine dispensing products, nicotine patches and gum are loaded with nicotine. That's what they are designed to do; put adequate nicotine into the smokers system to, theoretically at least, replace the need to smoke a cigarette. However, most smokers have adverse reactions to these products because they are getting more nicotine than they ever did smoking. What does all this extra nicotine do?

According to the American Lung Association, side effects with the nicotine patch are:

Headache
Dizziness
Upset stomach
Weakness
Blurred vision
Vivid dreams
Mild itching and burning on the skin
Diarrhea

Yes, nicotine does have an effect on the smokers body. However, with all the things that smoking does to the smoker, it doesn't produce the effects mentioned by the American Lung Association. This is another clue that nicotine is not the motivator to smoke.

=====>  Conclusion

If you go by the nicotine model to quit smoking, you are going to be disappointed. The only way to quit smoking is to remove the Psychological Smoking Mechanism by using proven, psychological techniques. When the mechanism is gone, so is smoking

© Copyright 2010, R. Michael Stone

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/nicotine-patches-and-gum-to-quit-smoking-2098738.html

About the Author

R. Michael Stone, M.S. - Counselor, 33 years experience with subconscious communication and subconscious programming techniques.
Creator of The Unlearn Smoking Success System™ - Become not an ex-smoker but a NON-smoker in only 28 days.
==>Program Details and FREE Reports
R. Michael Stone's Mind/Body Blog
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Side Effects Of Nicotine Patches

Posted on Jul 21, 2011
Author: Darryl Marsh

The general public have heard of or used quit smoking patches or have read adverts for a free quit smoking patch. However, there is no such thing as a free quit smoking patch.

The excellent news is that nicotine patches are not very expensive. The price depends on the brand and the store from which you are purchasing them. Another price factor is the amount of the patches you will be using a day and for the whole treatment period. Heavy smokers may need stronger nicotine patches and more frequent patch changes. Folks don't need that many patches, as their obsession isn't that strong.

Although you may not be in a position to get a free quit smoking patch, what you can get is a fair deal. There are numerous online sites that sell quit smoking aids. Their costs are often much more affordable than the costs in the drug store down the road. Moreover, online drug stores have regular promotions, for example discounts, or you could be able get a free quit smoking patch if you purchase a particular product.

But what should you do if you do occur to come across a free quit smoking patch offer? Be very carefully before using such product and guarantee it is genuine. It might be a fake patch and not have the required effect.

You won't be able to get a free quit smoking patch or any free quit smoking product.

The net can offer you with everything you must know about nicotine addiction, as well as hundreds of ways to help stop smoking. There are also many online consultation and support groups where you can communicate with people in your current position, share your thoughts, and offer and receive support.

If you are not web savvy, you can still get hold of a large amount of free support.

There are nicotine gums and patches which are available in the market to deal with your need for nicotine without the need of smoking a Marlboro. However, if you opt to buy these products, you need to understand that you'd still have to stop using them eventually because you would desire your system to be cleaned from nicotine. There also are drugs and pharmaceuticals which will help you overcome depression after you have stopped smoking. Infrequently , these medicines could also help with other withdrawal pains except for depression. However, before you're taking any of these drugs, you should talk to your doctor first so you would be steered appropriately.

You simply need to wait it out till the need passes.

You have got to fight hard not to smoke despite such robust urges. After many times of having the ability to fight off the need to smoke, you may feel that such urges will become less robust, and you may find it simpler to defeat such inclinations. You have to remain powerful because it's not straightforward to flush out the nicotine from your body, and will certainly take time before you are totally cleaned from it. Try seriously not to relapse ; otherwise you could finish up on the beginning line again, and youd waste your attempts. Try your best to direct your attention to fitter activities so you will not think about smoking as frequently as obligatory. The process you must go thru to quit smoking might not be straightforward, but it shall be worthwhile.

Here you can find more about Stop Smoking Products and see the New Stop Smoking Products

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/side-effects-of-nicotine-patches-998089.html

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Here you can find more about Stop Smoking Products and see the New Stop Smoking Products

Nicotine Patches To Help You Stop Smoking

Posted on Jul 01, 2011
Author: Andri Irawan

Those who try to simply stop smoking face a big pain: withdrawal symptoms. Their bodies, which have been so used to having nicotine in the bloodstream, craves for the same amount. Without the normal dosage - yes, smoking is like a drug that's regularly administered - the smoker's body goes through symptoms familiar to those who quit and took up smoking again: depression, insomnia, irritability, and an undefined sense of something lost.

Website and homebrew remedies details some ways to help the quitting smoker get a hold of himself or herself through the process, so that a relapse will not follow after the decision to stop smoking. One way to help through the process is to use nicotine patches. But one should keep in mind that this, too, like a drug, have conditions for it to work as expected on the quitting smoker. It's not a one-size fits everyone solutions, it's not an overnight magical answer.

The patch reduces craving. Contrary to what some who want to smoke thing, the nicotine patches do not completely eliminate the cravings they go through. Smoking carries with it some physical and mental effects on one's person, and some aspects cannot be handled by nicotine patches.

There are also reported side effects of using patches. Some of them just as unpleasant as not having patches at all, as reported by those who had already tried them. These discomforts include headaches, constant vomiting, stomach pains, and nausea. In some cases, these are the outcome of overmedication using the patches; in some cases these effects are temporary. But it pays to know the side effects before going completely headstrong into nicotine patches. Some who stop smoking did so with out them.

So how does one approach whether you should or should not use nicotine patches to stop smoking?

Step one. Don't just rush into buying the patches themselves. Consult with your doctor if you have medical conditions that may get aggravated when you take patches. You don't want to rake in more medical bills on the off chance you get worse.

Step two. Should your doctor approve, the first application of the patch will tingle a bit, so choose a section of your skin that's got less hair. Also, vary the areas you stick the patch to. Inspect the areas well, they should not have open wounds and rashes. Should you feel any sudden palpitations of breathing changes, go to your doctor and have yourself checked out.

Step three. Mind the doses. Also, note that you may have to try lower doses after maybe two weeks, as your body will have gotten used to them by then. These things vary from person to person. Hence the need to be monitored by a physician through consultations. You may experience a surge in appetite, so bear with it.

Just remember to consult with your doctor before you try the nicotine patch, and to stay in touch during the process. If anyone could simply stop  smoking, nicotine patches and other 'remedies' won't be needed. Sadly, nicotine addiction is a medical condition wherein your body craves a substance. So weaning yourself away from the substance by getting less and less of it is key to your decision to stop smoking. In this case, nicotine patches help a great deal in dealing with the withdrawal symptoms.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/nicotine-patches-to-help-you-stop-smoking-1814797.html

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Why Nicotine Patches Should Be Used As Directed

Posted on May 21, 2011
Author: Megan

I'm not sure what it is about human nature that makes people think they know better than the people putting out the various products we use, but the more time I spend on the internet working with various otc medications, the more I'm sure that very few people read the directions anymore. In the case of hair spray and toothpaste, this may not be dire, there for the most part, things should be used as directed - teeth whiteners, cold medicine, and especially smoking cessation aids like nicotine patches.
The strange thing about the general population's disregard for directions is that they always seem to think more is better. The logic goes something like, "Well, if 30 minutes a day will gradually whiten my teeth, 2 hours a day will making them sparkling white by tomorrow!" It doesn't take into account the fact that products are formulated to work a certain way for a reason. In our whitestrips example, that reason is because whitening teeth too fast will make the teeth very sensitive, damage the enamel and can even create uneven whitening with white spots.
However, using nicotine patches incorrectly can have longer-lasting and more dramatic side effects. Using two nicotine patches will not make it easier to quit smoking, because the purpose of nicotine patches is not to "cure" nicotine addiction. Instead, it's an effective way to gradually lessen the nicotine cravings and to minimize withdrawal symptoms. In other words, adding more nicotine patches in an effort to quit faster will actually make it harder to quit because it will take longer to get the nicotine out of your system.
In addition to that, nicotine patches are not without risks, even when used correctly. They can cause dizziness, nausea, skin irritation, and high blood pressure. However, they are given in doses that are safe for most users. When taken more often than directed or when taken two at a time, the chances for serious complications increase dramatically and cause a nicotine overdose.
Nicotine patches actually tell users not to smoke or use any tobacco products while wearing the patch because it can cause an overdose of nicotine. However, the nicotine remains in the bloodstream after the patch is removed, so it actually remains dangerous to use tobacco products for several hours after the patch has come off. Even people who chain smoked before trying to quit should make sure that they avoid thinking their nicotine tolerance will keep them safe from a toxic overdose. They should also be disposed of carefully - the patches contain enough nicotine to poison children and pets if they get a hold of them, even if they've already been used.
Nicotine addiction should never been taken lightly, nor should quitting. Make sure that you understand any of the products you decide to use if you need help quitting.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/why-nicotine-patches-should-be-used-as-directed-1019833.html

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Megan Winegar is the Web Editor for OverstockDrugstore.com. She also writes the content and code for the emails that OverstockDrugstore sends out to subscribing customers (complete with coupons and price drops), and is working to make the copy on the site more straightforward and customer-friendly. Feel free to subscribe to the email list on the main page of OverstockDrugstore.com and find the internet's best deals on health and beauty products you use every day, including the Nicoderm CQ patch.

Kick The Habit – The Truth About Nicotine Patches…

Posted on May 07, 2011
Author: Peter Kirwan

As the name aptly implies, a nicotine patch is an adhesive patch that's impregnated with nicotine so that when the patch is attached to a persons' skin [usually the upper arm], nicotine will be absorbed into the bloodstream via the skin, giving the person the addictive euphoria etc that would normally be gained from smoking a cigarette.

Ever since the powers-that-be and us ordinary joes have been educated about the terrifying ill-effects caused by smoking, there has been some serious effort, investigations and funding for sourcing various aids and products for helping people give up smoking.

If not the most dominant, then at least one of the most dominant products to have been introduced a few decades back is the nicotine patch. There are a variety of different types and there are plenty of people who assert to have successfully quit smoking for good as a result of their use.

So what do they do - how do they work?

A nicotine patch will ensure you satisfy your nicotine craving without the need to actually smoke a cigarette, so you won't be sucking down all the tar, carbon monoxide and other toxic things your poor lungs would normally have to cope with.

The general governing idea behind the nicotine patch is that you'll overcome the oral fixation of needing a cigarette in your mouth and then you can take the next step of slowly but surely weaning yourself off the nicotine patches as well.

Still, nicotine is a toxin. It's dangerous and addictive and will have an adverse effect on your heart and your brain which of course means that although it'll help stop you sucking a cigarette, wearing a patch is just not going to prevent all of the health-destroying effects of smoking.

And as is often the case, when you actually start cutting down on the use of patches, you start feeling the old cravings again and there's only two ways of fixing that - employ a nicotine patch or have a cigarette again.

A person returning to smoking is very common because it appears as though that's the easiest option and the nicotine patches are simply "just not the same".

So, although they're probably better than absolutely nothing when it comes to an aid for stopping smoking and people will often attest to them being supportive, nicotine patches are still not the ideal thing for a lot of heavy smokers who want to quit completely and forever.

In summary; nicotine patches are simply not always the helpful aid that they initially appear to be but there are alternative products that'll help and even though you're bound to find it a little tough at first, being able to kick the habit is much easier than you think – YOU ONLY HAVE TO WANT TO!

Quitting smoking naturally, speedily, and permanently isn't and has never been about overly complicated systems and/or poisonous pills and patches - it's all about simplicity, a little bit of will-power and some genuine tried and tested tobacco-quitting knowledge.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/kick-the-habit-the-truth-about-nicotine-patches-4035881.html

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You know you're probably going to die miserably and painfully before those who don't smoke, so if you have any self-worth at all, do yourself a huge favor and Click Here for Free Honest Reviews of the worlds top 3 tried-and-tested methods for quitting smoking.

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Do Nicotine Patches Really Work?

Posted on Apr 17, 2011
Author: Ruth Barringham

Today, more than ever, nicotine patches are marketed as "the best" way to quit smoking.  And there are millions of people who have tried to stop smoking using nicotine patches, and failed. So why don't nicotine patches work?

Nicotine patches are small sticky patches, infused with nicotine, that smokers stick on their arm or thigh.

The idea of how they are supposed to work is that the patch allows nicotine to slowly seep through the skin.  This is supposed to help smokers to quit by providing their regular "fix" of nicotine without the need to light up a cigarette

Also different nicotine patches contain different amounts of nicotine.  This enables the smoker to gradually change the patch they use. They begin by using a patch that contains a high amount of nicotine and then change to one with a lower and lower amount so that, in theory, they are eventually weaned off their addiction to nicotine and so no longer need to smoke.

But while this seems good in theory, in reality it doesn't work.

Studies have been done on the effectiveness of nicotine patches and the findings were quite amazing.

A study group of smokers who wanted to quit were used. All of them had to quit by going "cold turkey".  This meant that they stopped smoking all at once, not gradually.

The study group was divided into three smaller groups. The first group was given no help in giving up smoking. The second group was given nicotine patches, and the third group was given placebos (fake patches). The second and third group was not told which group had the real nicotine patches and which had the placebos.

At the end of the one year study 11.5% of the first group who were given no help managed to quit smoking. Out of the second group that were given nicotine patches, 11.8% of them quit and out of the third group who had the placebos, 12.6% had managed to quit. (See http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_OTCPatch.html for more information on the study).

 So what does all this prove?

Mostly it proves that the nicotine patches didn't work because almost just as many people gave up without using the patches. And, what is most amazing, is that even more people were able to quit using the placebos.

This means that it's mostly the belief in the patches that works rather than the actual patches themselves, although the placebo patches did actually contain an "undisclosed" amount of nicotine.

The real problem with nicotine is that, as with any drug, your body builds up a tolerance to it and so you need it more and more. This is why nicotine patches alone don't work.

You have to have a strong determination to stop smoking if you wan to truly succeed.

Nicotine patches, or any other quit smoking aid, won't take away your desire to light up a cigarette and enjoy the feeling and the taste of the smoke as it flows down your throat and into your lungs.

That's what you're really missing whenever you try to quit smoking. And the only way to get rid of you unwanted urge to smoke, is to do it the same way you started.

Gradually.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/quit-smoking-articles/do-nicotine-patches-really-work-1957352.html

About the Author

Ruth Barringham is a writer, author and publisher.

Don't put off quitting any longer. Go and grab your own copy of her free e-book, How to Quit Right Now.