New Data on Quitting Smoking and Women’s Health
You probably already know that smoking is bad for you; in fact, you would have to live under a rock to not know how many diseases have been linked to this addiction. Cancer, heart attack and stroke are commonly recognized problems associated with smoking and now thanks to the Harvard Medical Study you can add peripheral artery disease or PAD to the list.
The Study
Researchers followed nearly 40,000 women over a period of 13 years. Each woman was over 45 years old at the start of the study and showed no signs of cardiovascular disease. The group was a mix of smokers, non-smokers, ex-smokers and light to heavy smokers. The results of this study were shocking to say the least. At the end of the study, it was found that women who smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day were 10 times more likely to develop PAD than those who had never smoked!
The PAD Problem
Peripheral vascular disease, more commonly referred to as peripheral arterial disease is a condition in which the large arteries that supply blood to your extremities are blocked. This occurs because the arteries themselves have narrowed and restrict the blood flow to your legs and feet. In the early stages of the disease, you can be completely free of symptoms or only suffer mild discomfort. In severe cases, the loss of blood flow can result in amputation of the limb, though it should be noted this only occurs in a minority of cases.
Smoking and Arteries
There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, all of which can have damaging effects on the body. Nicotine and carbon monoxide, two chemical substances in cigarettes, can cause arteries to harden, narrow and become blocked by plaque, leading to an increased risk of PAD.
Stroke and Gangrene
As you can probably imagine blocked arteries is never a good thing and in addition to causing pain in your legs and possibly leading to gangrene, these blockages can also result in serious medical complications. Plaque can build up in the carotid artery, which supplies the brain with blood, worse still if the plaque causes rupturing and clots these can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
What Quitting Can Do
There is some good news; if you quit smoking, you can reduce your risk of PAD and other smoking related illnesses. This study found that women who had quit smoking in the past ten years were half as likely to develop PAD as their still smoking counterparts. After fifteen years, the risk is only 25% higher and so on. Sadly, even after two decades of smoking cessation you still retain an elevated risk of developing this potentially debilitating problem.
Finally it is Your Decision!
There are many other illnesses that have been attributed to smoking and the only way to protect your health is to quit. This is much easier said than done, as nicotine is a highly addictive substance akin to heroin, alcohol and cocaine addiction. However, with the right help you can lay down your cigarettes and move forward to a happier healthier life. Check out some of our most popular quit smoking products on this page.
Best Quit Smoking Products Not the Ones You Know
If you want to quit smoking or if you have tried to quit in the past, you are probably familiar with the range of smoking cessation products available on the market. Nicotine gum, lozenges, and prescription medication are among the most popular traditional quit smoking methods. However, despite their prevalence and accessibility, a large percentage of the population continues to smoke. It’s not that people are not interested in quitting. It’s that these methods are not only outdated, but they simply do not work.
The Ones You Know
Two of the most popular go-to products for smokers who want to quit are nicotine gum and lozenges sold in pharmacies and convenience stores throughout the nation. They work by releasing a small amount of nicotine into the system to curb withdrawal symptoms. The expectation is that you can slowly end nicotine dependence by gradually lowering the dose until you experience no withdrawal symptoms. This seemingly simple plan seems easy and straightforward. However, there are a few big loopholes that can quickly derail your treatment.
One big problem that products like nicotine gum don’t address is that smoking is not entirely a physical habit. Physical dependence on nicotine also creates a psychological dependence that doesn’t automatically disappear when you stop smoking. Many smokers think of cigarettes as their old friends, and they even miss the act of holding a cigarette in their hands. It’s also hard to give up the social aspect of smoking if you are used to taking smoking breaks with your friends or bringing cigarettes along every time you go out.
Another problem with nicotine replacement therapies like gum and lozenges is their prices. Cost of research, development, and manufacturing makes using these products as expensive as maintaining a smoking habit. Unfortunately many smokers feel that if they are going to have to spend this much money, they might as well pay for smoking.
More Problematic Solutions
Other popular and heavily advertised products are prescription medications like Zyban and Chantix. Quit smoking prescription medications are manufactured in pill form. Essentially, they work by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain, which leads to a reduction in cravings and withdrawal symptoms. While these drugs are supposed to double your quitting success rate, there are some serious health risks associated with their use. Recently, the FDA announced that both drugs will now carry “black-box” warnings, cautioning people that they may cause severe psychiatric problems. In fact, Zyban has been linked to 63 deaths since it was released three years ago.
In September 2010, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology and Health (CADTH) released a 548-page report concluding that nicotine replacement therapies and prescription medications provided relatively small benefits, and did not save money for healthcare providers. While these treatments work better than none at all, the success rate still leaves a lot to be desired. Nicotine gum and lozenges seem to be ineffective due to their simplistic treatment approach and high price. Prescription drugs, while more effective, are still quite expensive and can cause serious psychiatric problems including thoughts of suicide. Some new quit smoking technologies have recently been released, and they may offer a safer, more comprehensive, and more effective approach to quitting smoking for good. Check out our Smoke Deter review as one example of a product that may replace your tobacco habit.
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The Phillip Morris Electronic Cigarette?
Recently Phillip Morris International Inc. purchased rights to a special nicotine system, which may lead to their own unique electronic cigarette or a similar product. This system that they have purchased the rights too will allow users to get the nicotine found in cigarettes without actually smoking a cigarette. Essentially, this new system allows smokers to inhale the nicotine but they don’t end up getting all the toxic substances in their system that comes with smoking a cigarette. There is no smoke or tar to worry about in these nicotine systems, which can help to lower the risk of disease.
With the new technology that Phillip Morris has acquired, they are planning to develop a commercial product to sell that will make use of this new technology. While there are medicinal nicotine inhalers out there today that are designed to help people stop smoking, the product that Phillip Morris is working on will provide the “nicotine hit” that smokers get with a cigarette. This occurs because the nicotine is delivered a lot faster than most of the medicinal inhalers deliver it. With this type of delivery, smokers are able to get the feeling they are craving without having to actually smoke to get the nicotine.
While it is not yet known what kind of product Phillip Morris is going to go with to use this new nicotine delivery system, there are some other options already on the market known as electronic cigarettes. These devices are battery powered and often they are constructed to look much like a regular cigarette. However, the nicotine is actually delivered through a vapor instead of being delivered by burning tobacco to get the chemicals into the body.
Existing Products
While various types of electronic cigarettes are available, most do have the same type of design. The large end is the battery, which may have a small LED light that comes on when the person inhales on it. Then there is the atomizer, which helps to diffuse nicotine from a liquid to a vapor mist. Last is the inhaler piece, which is where the person puts their mouth to get the nicotine.
Some people view electronic cigarettes as a method to help them quite smoking. Although this option does take away some of the danger that comes with actually smoking, there is no evidence at this point that they are considered to be a quality smoking cessation aid. Sometimes companies advertise them in this way, but whether or not someone will quit using these options will depend upon the person that is using it. This is not really a device that will help people to quite smoking, but instead these electronic cigarettes simply offer another method of delivery for the nicotine. Examples of our best electronic cigarette reviews are on this very site.
When comparing current electronic cigarettes with the new technology that Phillip Morris is using, it definitely is obvious that this new technology probably will not be a successful smoking cessation aid. Since they are planning to develop a product that will offer the same “nicotine hit” that you get with a cigarette, you won’t be breaking the addiction to nicotine. While using these other methods of nicotine delivery can eliminate some of the dangers of actually smoking tobacco, the addition is to the nicotine, which is still being delivered to the body.
3 New Quit Smoking Technologies
Quitting smoking is a battle that takes patience, dedication, and strong will. Tobacco has such a strong hold on people that it can take years and many attempts to finally put an end to your harmful habit. Fortunately, there are many resources you can use to help you kick cigarettes to the curb. From injections to hotlines, smokers have used a variety of different methods for years. Recently, three new technologies have been introduced as alternatives to traditional methods like nicotine gum and patches. Smoke Deter, electronic cigarette, and Text2Quit can all be an effective way to quit smoking depending on your lifestyle and personal circumstances.
1. Smoke Deter – The Quit Smoking “Spray”
Smoke Deter is a quit smoking spray and pill combination. Unlike the gum or lozenges that are also taken orally, Smoke Deter promises instant relief. The all-natural combination of ingredients is designed to flush nicotine out of the body and stop withdrawal symptoms. By combating two biggest obstacles people face when significantly reducing their nicotine intake, Smoke Deter aims to be more effective than any other oral remedies on the market. The problem with nicotine supplements like gum is that you are still receiving a daily dose of nicotine. Smoke Deter, on the other hand, contains all-natural ingredients that are proven to calm and relax the body. The pill is formulated to slowly stop cravings, while the spray can lessen them instantly.
2. Electronic Cigarettes – The Nicotine Vapor
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, were unveiled as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. While very similar in appearance, the two share very little. Electronic cigarettes are also known as smokeless cigarettes because they vaporize nicotine. As a result, you can eliminate up to 4,000 toxic chemicals that are released through combustion. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine without any other harmful byproducts. If you plan to quit by slowly reducing your daily nicotine intake, e-cigs are a great alternative to traditional cigarettes. Every single cigarette harms you. When you are in the process of weaning your body off nicotine, you can at least cut out thousands of harmful toxins by using an electronic cigarette instead. A comprehensive electronic cigarette review is available on this very website.
3. Text2Quit – Communications and Quitting
People use cell phones for everything these days, so why not use yours to quit smoking? Text2Quit is a health initiative created by Voxiva with the help of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. With this innovative approach, Voxiva hopes to reach smokers who don’t have any quitting resources at their disposal. Since 85% of the adult population owns a cell phone and 20.6% of people in the United States smoke, it makes sense to offer help accessible to the majority of the population. Text2Quit provides smokers with a wealth of information available at their fingertips. The program uses a combination of web, e-mail, and SMS/text technology to provide smokers with the tools and support they need to quit. Users can fill out surveys for personalized advice, play special games when they have cravings, and receive feedback on popular smoking cessation methods. With Text2Quit, help and support are always just a few seconds away.