Essay Quit Smoking
More than 50 million people in the United States smoke on a daily basis.1 When I first saw this statistic I was shocked and I honestly didn't know what to do with that number. I have heard that approximately thirty percent of men in Tampa smoke, so I always figured that I had pretty good odds of finding a non-smoker, but I digress. Whatever the reason was to start smoking it is important for everyone to quit. There are many different ways to quit smoking but no one is guaranteed for everyone. It is important to realize that just because one way worked for your friend doesn't mean it will work for you too. Nicotine is also a very powerful addiction that is usually difficult to stop.2 The two types that I am going to cover in this paper are acupuncture and nicotine gum. Each has its own positive and negative effects.
The first potential way to quit smoking is acupuncture. Acupuncture to quit smoking is based on traditional Chinese medical treatment which has been around for thousands of years.3 The core idea behind this medical treatment is to allow the body's natural energy to flow freely around the body.3 When the Qi, or energy, is allowed to flow the results are amazing. Both the physical and psychological pieces of the body are improved and there is also a noticeable change in the level of general well-being.3 When I first started looking into acupuncture I really had no idea what to expect. The only idea that I had bouncing around me head was the fact that no one is going to stick a bunch of needles into my skin. I saw Kung Fu Panda and as funny as that may have been I don't really like needles to begin with. I later found that only 5 needles are typically used, and they are put in strategic places. Each patient is custom treated and outstanding circumstances are always taken into effect.1 There are five points on the ears and two body points that help people stop smoking.1 After the initial one hour session, there is most likely going to be four to six visits, but that all depends on how the individual responds.3 A typical stop smoking regime will consist of the initial appointments with monthly follow up appointments.1 Although acupuncture is somewhat expensive, and sometimes insurance may not pay for it, it can still be very cost-effective compared to the cost of smoking.3 An interesting point of not needing to take of ones clothes during the visit was made in one of the articles. I thought that since only my ears were being played with my clothes could stay on. My main question all through out my research is does it hurt? The answer is cryptic to say the least. Everyone has a different tolerance level for pain and so there is no real answer to whether or not it hurts. Some people claim that it is painless, while others feel little pricks.3 There is however a stark difference between the thoughts on the overall experience. Some people feel relaxed and sleepy, while others find the whole experience invigorating and feel quite alert.3 Acupuncture may not have the best medical rep sheet, but many smokers have claimed that it has helped them quit.3 It is also expected that acupuncture practitioners claim good success with the technique.3 Acupuncture is usually not considered a first option, and is most likely found by someone looking outside the box of normal stop smoking possibilities, like nicotine gum or patches.1 It is considered an alternative medicine, but by no mean is it a magic cure, acupuncture just makes it easier to quit and stay smoke-free.1
The second way I am going to discuss is the nicotine gum. Nicotine gum is a replacement for cigarettes that still involves the main ingredient, nicotine. Nicorette is the most common and popular brand of nicotine gum, but there are numerous name brand items available. It can be purchased over the counter in either 2 mg or 4 mg sizes.4 There are lots of online coupons to help with the cost of the actual gum. There are very stringent instructions for proper absorption of the nicotine. The first key is to have stopped smoking! Chew the gum slowly and wait for a peppery taste, then keep the gum on either side of your cheek and chew occasionally for twenty or thirty minutes.4 Chewing the gum too fast can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, hiccups, nausea, vomiting or insomnia.5 Like most drugs there are not good side effects, and most likely the side effects are scarier than the original issue. Mouth sores, jaw muscle aches, increased saliva production, indigestion, or headaches are common side effects.5 As the body gets used to the gum the side effects should disappear.5 There may be a slight chance of getting addicted to the actual gum. There is no limit on how many cigarettes that a person can smoke in a day, but the max number of pieces of gum is 30.5 It is also only recommended for 1 to 3 months with a maximum of 6 months.4 A positive perk of the nicotine gum is that it allows the individual to control the amount of nicotine in the body.4 It usually works best to create a schedule and then only chew off schedule when you have cravings.4 As always ask your doctor or a qualified physician before starting any sort of medication.5 Some may not think that the nicotine gum is medication, but it is foreign substance that the body may not react well to.5 Another perspective to take into consideration is temporomandibular joint disorder, or tmj. TMJ affects the jaw and the ability to chew things for an extended period of time.5 There are always other medical issues to be taken into consideration. From heart disease to diabetes to any allergies all could have serious negative effects.5 Nicotine gum is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing because nicotine can be shared through the placenta and is excreted into the breast milk. Nicotine gum is only a temporary aid to stop smoking, but it works relatively well for people that can quit in six months.5
The National Cancer Institute's role in research to prevent cancer by minimizing tobacco use started as biomedical research to large-scale public health interventions and demonstration projects.6 These projects and interventions help the medical field to be better prepared to deal with smokers and the many ways that there are for an individual to quit. Smoking hurts everyone and it would be better for the whole world if everyone could just quit, but alas it is not quite that easy. There is something about cigarettes that makes people keep on coming back, oh wait it's the wonderful addiction to nicotine. The positive side is that there are many different ways to kick the habit, and I will guarantee that there is one way that will fit everyone. The truth is that most people are not being properly educated on the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. Doctors simply don't have the time to sit down with every patient and give the facts.7 According to an article that I read people are more likely to attempt to quit if a concerned physician takes the time to actually care.7 Personally I would rather have to tell a person that he or she is going to live a healthy couple more decades, rather than six months because of emphysema. The two potential ways that I covered in this paper were acupuncture and nicotine gum. Each has perks and disadvantages, but that is just the story of everything in this word. Acupuncture works just fine for somehow who is not afraid of needles. Nicotine gum works really well for the people that want the oral cessation from smoking cigarettes. Smoking is a horrible habit that never should have been considered cool, but the best thing for us to do now is to stop the madness. I found a really cool quote over the course of my research and I thought that it could wrap this paper very nicely: It doesn't take strength or willpower to quit smoking. It takes educated and supported dreams and desires! 8
I kind of used this paper to show myself that may people have kicked the habit and that I need to at least try. I have been smoking since I was a freshman in high school. At first it was just peer pressure, but once I got through the being sick from cigarettes and was acclimated to the social acceptance of a young girl smoking I was hooked. The last part of this paper is supposed to be my advice to a friend who wants to quit smoking, but I was finding it kind of hypocritical to do that, so I decided to write my own advice for me.
No one is perfect everyone makes mistakes, and mine was giving into peer pressure. There were so many other things that I said “no” to, but cigarettes were not one of them. My advice to myself is to find a find a buddy that also wants to quit and set a date together. I find it is easier to stop or start doing something with someone looking out for me. My own willpower is strong, but every once in a while its been one of those days. A support group is the key in the process of quitting smoking.2 Take it from a perspective of its easier to go and work out when you have a group going to the same gym. The same goes for smoking, find a friend that is also serious about quitting and find fun things to do instead of smoking. Avoid bars and drinking because it is easier to stay away from the situation all together instead of testing yourself. I am lucky that I have found a friend that is willing to embark on this challenge with me. I realize that my actions may not affect the whole world, but the stupid actions of many will do just that. In the long run I will pay more for health insurance; I will loose money if and when I try to sell my car or house. Looking over this paragraph I realized that there are too many “I” statements. This world is not just about me, contrary to my happy bubble, there are a lot of people being affected by my decision to smoke.
My best advice is to not quit cold turkey. Even if the individual has amazing willpower, the first two weeks are close to heroin and cocaine withdrawal.6 The addiction doesn't stop overnight. There were lots of things going on in the body that most people do not even realize until after they quit. With my decision to quit I also decided to open up a savings account in my baby girl's name. This way every week I will have a positive reward for my actions for the week.2 By the time that I turn this paper in I will hopefully be nearing the end of my first week of not smoking. Wish me luck.