It may seem like shewing nicotine gum is a better alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, however, nicotine gum may still be addictive. Cigarette smoke is far worse and more dangerous than nicotine itself, cigarette smoke has many toxic and poisonous chemicals and toxins which can damage health and raise the risk of early mortality. Researchers know the dangers that smoking can cause, but more research is needed to fully understand. It’s important to know the risks when using nicotine replacement therapy so that you stay healthy and live a full life.
Research suggests that an approach that combines passive nicotine delivery (e.g. a nicotine patch) with an as-needed NRT (e.g. a gum, inhaler, or nasal spray) improves quit rates by 34% to 54% over the patch alone.7 The patch provides a steady concentration of nicotine while gum, lozenges, and other single-dose NRTs can help with breakthrough cravings.
Verywell Mind
Here are some helpful steps you can take to quit nicotine gum:
- If there are specific times of the day that you use the gum, e.g. first thing in the morning, after meals, etc., choose the one that is the easiest to let go.
- If you’re chewing two or three pieces of nicotine gum per day, start by eliminating just one piece.
- Substitute a piece of sugar-free gum or a healthy snack instead, and have a plan for a distracting activity should you need it.
As with any Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) its important to discuss the pros and cons with your health care provider. Each person is different and everyones bodies respond differently to different treatments, your doctor will be able to help you find the best tobacco cessation treatment for you.
Mandarin Tobacco Prevention Vocabulary
- 预防 (Yu fang) – Prevention
- 戒烟 (Jie yan) – Quit smoking
- 剧毒 (Ju du) – Highly addictive
- 戒除 (Jie chu) – Abstain
- 健康生活 (Jiang kang sheng huo) – Healthy lifestyle
Reference: https://www.verywellmind.com/addicted-to-nicotine-gum-now-what-2825031
