There are many methods that can help quit smoking, which makes you so confused about which one is the best. You can go directly to the clinic for the remedy or use some types of functional products such as nicotine patches, nicotine lozenge, nicotine inhaler, nicotine spray, and more.
Among those types, nicotine gum is outstanding because of its effects and convenience. But this method is not totally perfect.
This article provides you with some information on the pros and cons of nicotine gum.
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Effects of Nicotine Gum
1. Double Chances of Success in Quitting Smoking
When you use nicotine gum directly, the success rate will be double. It is most functional if you have more physical and mental support during your hard time quitting.
2. Portable Remedy
Nicotine gum is so impactful that you can bring it along whenever and wherever you need.
For instance, you are driving and craving a cigarette; you can unpack a nicotine gum to chew on instead.
3. The Stimulation of Mental Activities
Nicotine substance from the gum absorbed into your brain is at a rate that is much lower than the substance from cigarettes.
It plays a role as a brain booster that can help restrict Parkinsonism symptoms and might even avoid the lack of awareness in Alzheimer patients.
4. Nicotine Gum for Weight Loss
Chewing gum definitely keeps your mouth cool and busy rather than craving for any cigarette or any food.
Research from Louisiana State University stated that chewing gum was effective in reducing your appetite, cutting off your daily intake of about 40 calories.
If you cut 40 calories a day by chewing gum, then make another difference in your lifestyle, like taking some quick exercises, you will effortlessly cut 100 calories every day.
Then it leads to losing 10 pounds a year.
5. Control Cigarette Cravings
A fixed-dose of nicotine a day helps manage your nicotine absorption and prevent your addiction.
If the cravings occur so desperately and frequently, an extra piece of nicotine gum in an hour can keep them under control.
6. Other Advantages
Side Effects Of Nicotine Gum
1. Addiction
Nicotine gum helps individuals quit addicting to smoking, but more often, they gradually switch to being addicted to the gum itself.
Many people complained that after they used nicotine gum regularly in recommended periods, they have become dependent on it instead.
2. Nicotine Gum for Hair Loss
This change is about to give anxiety to the ladies who are getting involved in nicotine gum.
According to a 31-year-old model in a TV interview, her hair fall has increased 10 times after she started chewing nicotine gum to quit smoking.
Nicotine gum is an effective method for quitting smoking, but using it for a long time is definitely not harmless. It is best to decrease the quantity of gum consumption after you start to feel the gum works.
3. Lower Blood Sugar
As a smoker, you have a higher chance of causing diabetes.
This is because nicotine somewhat impacts the amount of insulin released from your body. This probably harms the cells because they do not respond to insulin like usual.
Henceforth, the smoker leads to diabetes. Nicotine gums can help remedy this situation, but too much usage may cause the opposite effects.
4. Fast Heart Rate
Nicotine, no matter in what form, when absorbing the brain and body, then forces adrenaline to release. This promotes the heartbeat since blood vessels are constricted, then blood pressure levels increase.
As a result, if the gum’s usage is continuous even after the recommended time period, it turns out to have negative effects like cigarettes do.
5. Dental Problems
Using nicotine gum too much obviously may be harmful to your dental work. Continuously chewing, it will damage the capping, fillings, or dentures. They will become looser, and a suddenly improper bite will properly cause pain in your jaw.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you find references from your dentist to consider nicotine gum as a remedy for quitting smoking.
Importantly, after you resort to nicotine gum. It should be used not so often after a period of three months. You just get involved with it after you are sure that the gum really works for you.
6. Pregnancy Threatening
Nicotine gum did put a pregnant woman to a fatal overdose.
Smoking is known to cause low birth weight, increased perinatal mortality, spontaneous abortion, lower placental perfusion. And nicotine replacement is absolutely acknowledged to be less harmful than smoking.
Nicotine is proven to contaminate breast milk up to an hour after maternal smoking, and it may increase the infant's heart rate. However, second-hand smoke of the infant may be more hazardous than nicotine replacement.
As a result, pregnant or breastfeeding patients should consult a health professional before using any smoking cessation product.
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7. Other Disadvantages
FAQs on the Pros and Cons of Nicotine Gum
Is nicotine gum bad for you?
Nicotine gum won’t be bad to anyone if you use it properly and adequately.
It will become the best friend of smokers and help them overcome the addiction, which can make their lifestyle turn over a new leaf.
Does nicotine gum cause cancer?
The cancer risk from using nicotine gum is possible. A study has discovered that the nicotine amounts that are the primary substance of smoking cessation products can have chemistry with a mutation that expands the risk of cancer.
That’s why you should not overuse it and get addicted to it.
Is nicotine gum safe?
Nicotine gum is completely unharmful for most people if it is used appropriately. It is direct on prescription or through the counter.
Individuals under the age of 18 should check with the doctor if they want to use it, as should people with diabetes, heart disease, kidney, or liver disease, stomach ulcers, overactive thyroids, or any allergies.
Especially, pregnant women must stay far away from nicotine gum.
How much nicotine gum is enough?
Individuals who smoke less than 24 cigarettes per day should use the dosage of 2 mg. Who consumes more than 25 cigarettes a day should use the dosage of 4 mg.
In a more extreme circumstance, if you crave a cigarette in a half-hour after waking up or find it hard to resist the temptation of smoking in restricted areas, you may consider a higher dosage.
Each piece of gum is one dose, and 24 pieces should be the largest number you consume every day. After two or three months, the amount of daily consumption needs to decrease.
One important thing you need to remember: What you eat and drink will impact how productively the nicotine gum is absorbed into your body. Restrict acidic ingredients like coffee, juices, soft drinks at least 15 minutes before and within the gum usage.
How to use nicotine gum properly?
You can follow this method called “chew-and-park”:
Are there any precautions when using nicotine gum?
In Short
Many people have resorted to nicotine gum and succeeded in quitting to smoke. The impact and convenience of this method are undeniable. But somehow, this product still has side effects. Experts have worked so hard to indicate the pros and cons of nicotine gum.
We hope this article will provide enough information about the effects of nicotine gum. When it comes to quitting smoking, this product will help you overcome it as soon as possible.
