Is it possible to get rid of nicotine addiction? Getting rid of tobacco addiction Preventing addiction

According to statistics, about 34% of citizens in Russia smoke. Most tobacco users develop health problems sooner or later. Not only smokers themselves suffer, but also their loved ones. In addition, cigarettes are not cheap, and the need to purchase them places a heavy burden on the budgets of thousands of Russian families. Many people dream of giving up their addiction, but not everyone succeeds in doing this: nicotine addiction is addictive and it is not easy to get rid of it.

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Habit or disease?

According to the World Health Organization classification, nicotine addiction is a serious disease that requires qualified treatment. No more than 7% of smokers can give up this habit without the help of doctors - those whose metabolic characteristics allow them to tolerate quitting tobacco without experiencing almost any discomfort. pleasant sensations. Other people who decide to quit smoking face serious problems.

The fact is that when you inhale tobacco smoke, nicotine almost instantly enters the bloodstream, and after seven seconds it reaches the brain and stimulates the so-called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The brain sends a signal to the adrenal glands, triggering the release of adrenaline. In addition, under the influence of nicotine, the level of glucose and dopamine (“pleasure hormone”) in the blood increases. In general, nicotine acts as a psychostimulant: after smoking a cigarette, a person feels a slight euphoria, feels calm and full of energy. The need to repeat such sensations gradually develops, and the body begins to need an increase in the dose of the substance that causes them. It is this effect of nicotine that underlies the physical addiction to smoking.

But that's not all. Over time, smoking becomes a behavioral stereotype. Simply put, a person becomes accustomed not only to inhaling tobacco smoke, but also to the ritual associated with this action. The addiction is reinforced by the fact that smoking often serves as a means of communication. Teenagers who are just starting to try cigarettes often perceive their use as a sign of independence and high status in youth groups. At the age of 14-16 years, to form a persistent addiction, it is enough to smoke one or two cigarettes a day for a couple of months.

In fact, tobacco use only brings harm to both the smoker himself and everyone around him. The negative impact of smoking on health, ability to work and even appearance proven. It is this habit that is one of the main causes of pulmonary, cardiovascular and oncological diseases. Children of smoking mothers often have delays in physical and intellectual development. In fact, addiction to tobacco use is nothing more than drug addiction.

Modern methods of getting rid of nicotine addiction

Most people who dream of stopping smoking make their first attempts of this kind on their own. The confidence that you can quit as soon as you want is typical even for smokers with many years of experience. This is understandable: a person likes to think that he has no dependence and is completely free to make decisions and implement them. Disappointments are inevitable here. As a rule, in the very first hours spent without cigarettes, a smoker experiences withdrawal symptoms. Usually observed:

• sleep disorders;
• anxiety;
• irritability;
• difficulty concentrating;
• constant hunger;
• obsessive cough associated with the beginning of bronchial cleansing;
• copious secretion of dark sputum.

In addition, nausea may occur headache, dizziness and other unpleasant sensations. A person really wants to smoke and understands that a cigarette will immediately improve his well-being. This aggravates his suffering and is the first reason for his relapse (return to smoking).

The main mistake of such attempts is the refusal of professional help. Contacting a narcologist allows you to receive qualified advice on the tactics of treating the disease and the use of medications, based on individual characteristics the patient's body and the duration of tobacco use. Typically, patients are prescribed nicotine replacement therapy (taking substances whose effects are similar to those of nicotine), as well as treatment to help them cope with withdrawal symptoms less painfully.

In addition, the following measures are believed to greatly facilitate the process of quitting smoking:

• introducing a large amount of fruits and vegetables into the diet. It is very important to eat a lot of spicy and aromatic herbs (basil, celery, parsley, dill, etc.);
• increasing the volume of fluid consumed (the body needs to get rid of toxins);
• increasing physical activity. Long walks, swimming, running and other sports are encouraged;
• taking expectorants (preferably of herbal origin);
• refusal of behavioral stereotypes associated with smoking;
• limiting intake of strong coffee and alcohol;
• temporary refusal (if possible) from communicating with smokers and visiting public places where smoking is allowed.

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Folk wisdom says: smoking is harmful to health! And this is not just a philosophical statement, but a scientifically proven fact. Inhaled smoke from cigarettes burns the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, respiratory tract and organs digestive tract. It contains a set of toxic compounds for the human body: hydrogen cyanide, isoprene, acetone, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, acetaldehyde and psychoactive substance- a nicotine alkaloid, which is considered an addictive stimulant that causes mild euphoria.

The respiratory system takes the hardest hit: the smoker’s lungs fill with mucus, darken, and small bronchi become blocked. As a result, cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing appear, which are a harbinger of the development of “smoker’s bronchitis,” pneumonia, and cancer. According to the conclusion of the first category TB doctor, Nikolai Pavlovich Gordeev, five years of nicotine addiction is enough for partial deformation of the respiratory organs.

Folk remedies will help smokers get rid of bad habit, if he does not have the strength to cope with it on his own. Remember, achieving a positive result requires desire, perseverance, patience and time. Recovery internal organs will not happen right away.

Quitting smoking will improve your health, fill you with vigor, energy and strength.

Where to begin?

The key to success is a positive attitude and a strong desire to overcome addiction. Quitting smoking without these aspects is impossible. Remember, a universal way to break out of the nicotine web has not yet been invented. Half of ex-smokers believe that it is better to try to get rid of the bad habit suddenly. Others believe that it is much more effective to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day until you quit smoking completely. This method does not have such a stressful effect on the human body as the first.

You need to start fighting a bad habit with a clear justification of the reason that prompted you to overcome the addiction. This could be preserving, improving health, the desire to avoid a chronic disease or save children from a bad example and the negative effects of tobacco smoke, doctor’s advice, the desire to increase performance, improve potency, skin condition, request loved one, pregnancy planning.

Two days before quitting a bad habit, it is recommended to smoke twice as many cigarettes as usual. As a result of oversaturation of the body with nicotine, tobacco will lose its taste, and it will be easier to get rid of addiction.

The most difficult period is the first two days after quitting smoking. “Nicotine withdrawal” develops, a kind of milestone that determines the outcome of the attempt. Having overcome it, the chance of parting with the cigarette rapidly increases, but if you break at the turning point, further struggle is considered useless.

First of all, choose the moment when it is more convenient to get rid of nicotine addiction. If you are used to smoking while relaxing in company, it is optimal to increase your work/study load during the period of abstinence from cigarettes. If a bad habit helps you relieve stress and concentrate, you need to quit it during the holidays, when there are no prerequisites for nervous overstrain. You can plan to quit smoking on a date that is important to you (anniversary, birthday).

To smooth out Negative consequences giving up nicotine addiction 15–20 days before starting to fight the addiction, it is recommended to take vitamin and mineral complexes with nutrients A, C, B, E, R.

If you like to stop smoking gradually, first develop intermediate goals, achieving which can lead to a complete cessation of nicotine addiction. For example, reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke by 3 to 5 every day, break the bad habit after two weeks, drink three sips of water before each puff, which will ultimately eliminate the desire to use tobacco. Intermediate goals will help distribute forces rationally and set the pace of movement on the path to progress.

Then find out under what circumstances the desire to smoke arises. Write them down on a piece of paper. Next to it, add reasons motivating you to get rid of your bad habit. Every day, in the morning, at lunch and in the evening, review the list, adjust it, and supplement it if necessary.

Purposefully make smoking inconvenient for yourself:

• buy cigarettes in one store, geographically remote from your place of work or residence;
• do not smoke “for company”;
• Do not carry cigarettes, matches, lighters with you, give them to colleagues/friends;
• stop buying packs in blocks “in reserve”, purchase only after finishing what you started;
• smoke only half or 2/3 of a cigarette;
• reduce the tightening depth;
• buy cigarettes only with a filter;
• wash your hands, brush your teeth, change clothes after smoking to get rid of the smell of tobacco;
• remove the cigarette from your mouth between puffs;
• if you want to smoke, restrain yourself for at least five minutes, try to distract yourself, forget about the bad habit, overcome the thirst for a dose of nicotine;
• when buying a pack of cigarettes, record its cost, and by the end of the week, add up the costs and determine how much money you will save by giving up smoking;
• replace a bad habit with a new hobby, physical exercise;
• avoid situations that encourage you to take another puff (don’t be nervous);
• get rid of ashtrays and cigarettes in the workplace, in the house, in the car.

In the fight against nicotine addiction, make sure that the number of cigarettes you smoke decreases every day. Under no circumstances should you stop and keep their number at the same level. This will lead to renewed smoking intensity and will undo your efforts.

Throughout the entire period of fighting addiction, it is recommended to use folk remedies, the action of which is aimed at reducing cravings for tobacco products and cleansing the body. In addition, it is recommended to switch to a healthy diet, saturate your diet with vegetables, fruits, and lactic acid products. Avoid pickles, smoked meats, meats, and alcoholic drinks that encourage you to take a couple of “extraordinary” puffs.

Let's look at how to help the body eradicate a bad habit using natural remedies.

The duration of treatment with folk remedies is 30 calendar days.

1. Ginger.
   Every time you have a craving to smoke, put a piece of it in your mouth instead of a cigarette. When chewed, the spicy taste of ginger dulls the desire to take another puff. The result of this technique surpasses the effect of chewing gum and anti-tobacco lozenges. In addition, ginger root has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, antioxidant and sedative effects. It lowers blood pressure, increases immunity, potency, and freshens breath. Recipe for preparing an anti-smoking drink: peel, chop medium-sized ginger root, squeeze out the juice of one lemon, combine the ingredients, pour 200 milliliters of boiling water. Then add 15 milligrams of honey and leave for two hours. Divide the finished broth into three equal portions and take between meals. Pumpkin seeds, calamus root, and bird cherry will help overcome the desire to smoke a cigarette. During an attack, when the body requires a dose of nicotine, chew these medications slowly.
2. Antinicotine tea.
   To prepare the drink, you need 5 grams of green leaf tea and 2 grams of crushed chicory root, stinging nettle leaves, valerian officinalis, aromatic rue, peppermint, pour 400 milliliters of boiling water. Leave the tea for an hour and a half, strain. Take 100 - 150 milliliters daily 2 - 3 times a day. To enhance the effect of anti-nicotine tea, additionally add 5 grams of raw beets, the juice of one lemon, and 5 milliliters of honey. In addition to satisfying the desire to smoke, herbal tea cleanses the body of toxins.
3. Eucalyptus infusion according to the recipe of Professor Filatov.
   The solution relieves the pain that a smoker experiences after quitting a bad habit. To prepare the decoction, take 15 grams of eucalyptus leaves, pour 150 milliliters of boiling water, leave for one hour. After the specified time, strain the solution, then add 15 milliliters of glycerin and 15 grams of honey. Take the resulting decoction seven times a day, 40 milliliters.
4. Rinsing the mouth with a solution baking soda, rhizomes of snakeweed, copper sulfate.
   This method reduces the craving for tobacco products. In the first case, to prepare a solution, 15 grams of soda are dissolved in 150 milliliters warm water. In the second, 15 grams of ground rhizomes of the snakeweed are mixed with 150 milliliters of water and boiled over low heat for three minutes. The resulting broth is covered with a lid, left for 50 minutes, and filtered. You need to rinse your mouth before every urge to smoke. This method causes a gag reflex and nausea, which develop an aversion to tobacco products.
5. Smoking a pipe filled with herbs.
   Mix the following dried ingredients in equal parts: club moss, European hoofed grass, lingonberry leaves. Grind the herbs in a coffee grinder, compact 15 grams of raw materials into smoking pipe. Recommended for use instead of cigarettes. Smoke two “portions” of this pipe per day. After each “session” you need to immediately drink 500 milliliters of mineral water. The course of combating nicotine addiction is nine days. To cleanse the lungs of tars and toxins, doctors advise smoking the following medicinal herbs (instead of cigarettes): azalea, rosemary, ginseng, coltsfoot grass, mullein leaves.
6. Massage.
   This method Chinese specialists use this method to eliminate nicotine addiction. Its essence is to activate the point located in front of the throat at the base of the neck in the middle of the pit to facilitate quitting cigarettes. Intensive massaging of this area reduces the craving for tobacco and makes a person feel better during the period of restructuring of the body. The minimum number of repetitions is 15 times. You need to massage the point on the throat every time you want, take a few puffs, at least three times a day.

As you can see, there are many traditional methods How to help your body quit smoking and improve your health. Usage medicinal herbs, plants, healthy products and massage can reduce cravings for cigarettes, cleanse internal organs of toxic substances obtained from tobacco smoke, normalize the activity of the nervous system, and restore emotional balance.

Immediately after quitting a bad habit

Regularly smoking from two to several dozen cigarettes a day causes the body to become accustomed to the systematic intake of toxic substances. Quitting tobacco products leads to temporary imbalance metabolic processes. The process of restructuring the body to life without cigarettes takes up to 60 days.

Consequences of “withdrawal syndrome” or the body’s adaptation to life without tobacco smoke

Clinical picture

What doctors say about alcoholism

Doctor medical sciences, Professor Ryzhenkova S.A.:

I have been studying the problem of ALCOHOLISM for many years. It’s scary when the craving for alcohol destroys a person’s life, families are destroyed because of alcohol, children lose their fathers, and wives lose their husbands. Often it is young people who become drunkards, destroying their future and causing irreparable harm to their health.

It turns out that a drinking family member can be saved, and this can be done in secret from him. Today we will talk about a new natural remedy Alcolock, which turned out to be incredibly effective, and also participates in the federal Healthy Nation program, thanks to which until July 24.(inclusive) the product can be obtained FOR FREE!

1. Decreased immunity: susceptibility to ARVI diseases, disorders of the respiratory and digestive systems.
2. Weight gain.
   The habit of taking a smoke break among ex-smokers is replaced by a desire to have a snack. To maintain weight, it is recommended to eat low-calorie foods, eat vegetables and fruits, and limit intake bakery products, fatty foods (butter, cheese, smoked meats, lard). The main condition for maintaining a slim figure is not to overeat before bed, eat small portions four times a day. Exercise regularly, do not replace a cigarette with sweets. Better eat grapefruit, cucumber, apple.
3. Mood swings.
   In addition to physiological dependence, the smoker develops psychological addiction. Having lost a bad habit, a person experiences emotional discomfort, which worsens during an attack of puffing.
4. Sleep disturbance, insomnia.
5. Sore throat, dry mouth.
6. Feeling of restlessness, anxiety.
7. Cardiopalmus.
8. Cough.
9. Pain in the heart area.
10. Decreased concentration.
11. Sweating.

If you experience unpleasant sensations immediately after quitting smoking, do not despair; after two weeks they will decrease and go away. Nicotine chewing gum/patch, sedatives (tinctures of hawthorn, peony, valerian), B vitamins, ascorbic acid can reduce painful consequences and support the body on the path to recovery.

Remember, most relapses occur in the first three months after a person stops smoking. Therefore, during this period it is not recommended to announce that you have begun the fight for health. When asked by friends or colleagues to smoke, it is better to say that you simply don’t want to. This will save you from unnecessary answers, explanations and interrogations. Promise yourself every day that you will not put a single cigarette in your mouth. Over time, this “cautious” tactic will bring the desired result.

Let us consider in detail what reactions occur in the body when quitting smoking.

1. Blood is restored, heart function is normalized. This is due to the fact that when inhaling cigarette smoke, the liquid connective tissue undergoes intense coagulation. This is how the human body tries to remove microscopic harmful particles that penetrate the respiratory system with tobacco. However, this leads to muscle overload and an increased risk of heart attack. When you give up a bad habit, this danger disappears.
2. When nicotine leaves the body, tremor (shaking) of the hands disappears, the nervous system calms down.
3. Two hours after the last puff, poisonous carbon monoxide leaves the blood, and the rapid heartbeat returns to normal.
4. Blood circulation in the palms and feet is normalized. This occurs as a result of expansion blood vessels after nicotine is removed from the body (two hours after smoking).
5. Three days after quitting tobacco, the recovery process of the lungs begins: inflammation goes away, mucus, dirt and toxic substances of them.
6. The sense of smell and taste improves.
7. In two weeks, the skin will look healthy and “smoker’s wrinkles” will disappear.
8. After a month after quitting nicotine addiction, the psycho-emotional state of the ex-smoker normalizes. Behavior will become balanced.
9. Physical fitness will improve and shortness of breath will go away.
10. A year after completely quitting smoking, the risk of developing cancer, chronic bronchitis, diabetes mellitus. In addition, you will extend your life by three months.
11. Every year your health will improve and your health will get stronger.

Having overcome the critical period in the first three months, having lasted half a year without cigarettes, the likelihood of breaking the habit and not returning to it in the future will exceed the chances of resuming smoking.

Conclusion

Smoking is a bad habit that strengthens the dependence between the consumer and the cigarette every month. Consequences of abuse tobacco products deplorable: coronary heart disease, decreased potency, infertility, miscarriages, cancer, chronic bronchitis, hearing loss, emphysema, heart attack, hypertension, stomach ulcers, Buerger's disease.

Quitting smoking, restoring the functioning of internal organs with the help of folk remedies help you regain your health, overcome addiction and breathe life into your full lungs.

Remember, every day you live without taking a puff, you increase your life expectancy by six hours.

Get on the path to a healthy lifestyle and don’t return to a bad habit!

Drawing conclusions

If you are reading these lines, we can conclude that you or your loved ones suffer from alcoholism in one way or another.

We conducted an investigation, studied a bunch of materials and, most importantly, tested most of the methods and remedies for alcoholism. The verdict is:

If all drugs were given, it was only a temporary result; as soon as the use was stopped, the craving for alcohol increased sharply.

The only drug that has given significant results is Alcolock.

The main advantage of this drug is that it once and for all eliminates the craving for alcohol without a hangover. Moreover he colorless and odorless, i.e. to cure a patient of alcoholism, it is enough to add a couple of drops of medicine to tea or any other drink or food.

In addition, there is a promotion going on now, every resident of the Russian Federation and the CIS can get Alcolock - FOR FREE!

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By placing an order using the links above, you are guaranteed to receive a quality product from the official manufacturer. In addition, when ordering on the official website, you receive a money-back guarantee (including transportation costs) if the drug does not have a therapeutic effect.

Many people consider smoking a habit, believing that quitting smoking is very easy, you just need to make some effort. In fact, habits are sometimes very difficult to change. However, smoking is more than a habit, it is a certain form of addiction. It is one of the most common reasons death that a person has the power to prevent. Meanwhile, in the world, tobacco takes about 4 million human lives every year (Peto R. et al., 2005). Tobacco contains nicotine, one of the most powerful poisons known, which is sometimes used as an insecticide. Smokers often try to defend themselves in a “rational” way from the conclusions that arise from such information, citing individual cases (“my second cousin smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and lived to 87 years”) or the relative risk associated with other forms of behavior (“ I might get into a car accident tomorrow." These statistics can simply be summarized by emphasizing the fact that smoking is a much more dangerous evil compared to incidents of this kind. Even in countries where road traffic accidents are reported infrequently, smoking poses a greater health risk. For example, in the UK, smoking is more than 35 times more dangerous than road accidents.

Despite knowledge about the dangers of smoking and decades of struggle against this habit, the number of people smoking around the world is steadily growing. However, efforts to combat smoking by the international community and doctors are gradually beginning to show first results, especially in economically developed countries. Statistics from population surveys show that about 70% of constantly smoking people would like to quit smoking (Sakharova G.M. et al., 2001). However, it is very difficult for many to quit smoking on their own, which is determined by nicotine addiction and other pathophysiological mechanisms of the effects of tobacco. Therefore, helping those who want to quit smoking is of vital importance. For this purpose, the drug TABEX, produced by Sopharma JSC, has been developed.

SMOKING: A SAD STATISTICS

Ukraine is classified as a country with a high prevalence of smoking (Smirnova I.P. et al., 2001). Nowadays, 51% of men of working age in urban areas and 60% in rural areas smoke. Over a 20-year period, the prevalence of smoking among urban women of working age increased from 5 to 20%.

The highest frequency of smoking is recorded among men aged 20–29 years (60% in cities and 70% in rural areas). Calculations show that of this cohort of young men, 25% will die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases, that is, of the 3.5 million young people of this age, 587 thousand will not live to see 70 years of age.

According to WHO, Ukraine in absolute numbers is in 17th place among all countries in cigarette consumption, which accounts for 1.5% of all cigarettes in the world. At the same time, the population of Ukraine is no more than 0.85% of the population of the earth. If throughout the world there are an average of 870 cigarettes smoked per year per person, then in Ukraine it is 1500–1800 or about 4.5 cigarettes per day, that is, approximately 2 times more than the global average.

Smoking: innocent fun or real danger

Since the early 1950s, a large number of studies have been accumulated regarding the effects of smoking on health, revealing a connection between tobacco smoking and serious pathologies (Sakharova G.M. et al., 2001):

• Tobacco smoking products are one of the most powerful carcinogens. Smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths and 90% of all lung cancer cases.
• Tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for the development of respiratory diseases. Smokers are 5–8 times more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among children and adolescents who smoke, the prevalence of respiratory diseases is significantly higher than among non-smokers; physical activity and there is a slowdown in lung development.
• Mortality from cardiovascular diseases among smokers is 2 times higher than among those who do not smoke. Smoking causes 30–40% of mortality from coronary disease hearts. Non-fatal myocardial infarction in smoking men aged 30–49 years occurs 5 times more often, in men aged 50–59 years – 3 times, and in men aged 60–79 years – 2 times more often than in those who do not smoke. U smoking women who use oral contraceptives are at risk of developing cerebral stroke 20 times higher than in women who do not smoke.
• Smoking in women during pregnancy not only causes an increase in the frequency of pregnancy complications and intrauterine fetal death, the risk of miscarriages and a decrease in the body weight of newborns, but also affects the health of the child during the first 7–9 years of life, manifested by a lag in mental and physical development.
• Smoking negatively affects endocrine system, especially women's. Women who smoke are more likely to experience amenorrhea, bleeding, decreased estrogen levels in the blood, and early menopause. Diffuse toxic goiter is diagnosed in 15–30% of women who smoke. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Smoking causes premature aging and wrinkles on the face. This was first noted back in 1856. M. Ippen et al. in 1965 proposed the term “cigarette skin” to refer to pale gray wrinkled skin. They identified such skin in 79% of smokers and only 19% of non-smoking women aged 35–84 years.

In 1985, D. Model proposed the term “smoker's face” and defined its diagnostic criteria:

1. Prominent lines or wrinkles on the face.

2. Gaunt facial features with an emphasized line of the skull bones.

3. Atrophic, slightly pigmented grayish skin.

4. Swollen skin with an orange, purple or reddish tint.

The risk of premature wrinkles increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per year, and those who smoke more than 50 packs per year are 4.7 times more likely to have wrinkles than non-smokers of the same sex and age.

• Passive smoking is a risk factor for non-smokers: the risk of developing lung cancer, incidence of otitis media and lower respiratory tract infections.

The number of cigarettes smoked by a person during the day and year is of great importance. There is a concept of the “smoking person index”: the number of cigarettes smoked during the day must be multiplied by 12. If the index exceeds 200, then the smoking person should be classified as a “heavy smoker”, who, as a rule, has a high degree of dependence on nicotine and Nicotine-related diseases develop.

Nicotine addiction: pathophysiology

Basics pharmachologic effect nicotine consists in its interaction with acetylcholinergic receptors. Nicotine, like acetylcholine, stimulates the functional activity of H-cholinergic receptors, but the process of depolarization (blocking) of the receptors lasts longer than that of acetylcholine. The dual effect of nicotine on H-cholinergic receptors should be taken into account: the primary effect is their stimulation (agonist function), and the subsequent effect is the blockade of the functional activity of the receptors. Both effects (blocking and agonistic) form tolerance to smoking, so the central nervous system needs to adapt to toxic effect nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke.

A person who starts smoking tobacco for the first time or who resumes smoking after a break experiences dizziness, nausea, and muscle weakness - signs indicating the central effect of nicotine. Subsequently, the smoker goes through all stages of tolerance to smoking, and various degrees of addiction gradually form.

Thus, nicotine has a direct effect on H-cholinergic receptors and indirectly affects the functional activity of dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors. Smoking activates the sympathetic nervous system, release of so-called stress hormones into the blood (Sharma S. et al., 2006).

In people with a normal initial level of glucose in the blood and normal blood pressure, nicotine constantly entering the blood leads to vegetative and hormonal changes in the body, which, in case of quitting smoking, causes a decrease in blood pressure and blood glucose levels. This is associated with such manifestations of withdrawal syndrome as exhaustion, weakness, decreased concentration and irritability, which lead to the resumption of smoking.

When you quit smoking, the process of reneuroadaptation begins. During the period of smoking, an excess number of H-cholinergic receptors is formed, and the number of nicotine binding sites on the surface of the receptors increases. In the process of quitting smoking, these changes gradually regress. Smoking cessation is accompanied by hypercholinergic activity and signs of withdrawal syndrome.

The process of reneuroadaptation is aimed at the functioning of the cholinergic system, free from the effects of nicotine: the number of H-cholinergic receptors changes again, some subtypes of receptors that appeared during the period of adaptation to nicotine load disappear, the ratio of normally functioning and prolonged depolarized receptors changes.

Tabex: getting rid of nicotine addiction

There are a large number of recommendations and treatments for tobacco addiction that have been used for many years. A meta-analysis was conducted on the effectiveness of various techniques used in the treatment of tobacco dependence, and the effectiveness (increased likelihood of quitting smoking when using the technique) was determined for each of them (Lancaster T. et al, 2000). Only two methods have significant effectiveness - nicotine replacement therapy and conversations with doctors and medical staff.

For development individual program Quitting smoking and providing medication assistance to a smoker is important to determine the degree of nicotine dependence. Nowadays, there are different methods for diagnosing it: determining thiocyanate in the blood, the level of CO in exhaled air, the concentration of nicotine, cotinine or their metabolites in the blood, urine or saliva. Most often used Fagerström test:

1. How long after waking up do you light a cigarette?

for 5 minutes - 3 points
from 6 to 30 minutes - 2 points
from 31 to 60 minutes - 1 point
after more than 60 minutes - 0 points

2. Is it difficult for you to refrain from smoking in prohibited places?

yes - 1 point
no - 0 points

3. Which cigarette is the hardest to abstain from?
morning - 1 point
next - 0 points

4. How many cigarettes do you smoke every day?

over 30 - 3 points
from 21 to 30 - 2 points
from 11 to 20 - 1 point
10 or less - 0 points

5. When do you smoke most?
in the morning - 1 point
during the day - 0 points

6. Do you smoke when you are sick when you should be in bed?

yes - 1 point
no - 0 points

The degree of nicotine addiction is assessed by the sum of points:

0–2 - very weak dependence
3–4 - weak dependence
5 - average dependence
6–7 - high dependence
8–10 - very high dependence.

If the result is above 4 points, drug therapy must be used.

Quitting smoking is quite difficult. Physical dependence from smoking, or nicotinism, forms a withdrawal syndrome, in which a chronic smoker, when quitting smoking, worsens the general condition, mood and thinking processes. The severity of the withdrawal syndrome that occurs when nicotine is stopped entering the body can be reduced. In this case, it is necessary to use specific therapy.

For this purpose, a number of medicines have been developed and one of them is the drug TABEX produced by Sopharma JSC (scheme). The active ingredient of the drug is cytisine, an alkaloid found in broom (Cytisus laburnum L.), chemical formula which determines its nicotine-like activity. Cytisine binds to H-cholinergic receptors, that is, it enters into a relationship of competitive antagonism with nicotine. It excites the nicotinic receptors of the autonomic ganglia, irritates the chemoreceptors of the carotid sinus, and causes the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Increases blood pressure and stimulates breathing in a reflex way.

Scheme. Use of the drug TABEX

The peculiarity of the drug is that a person who wants to get rid of a bad habit, but does not have the willpower to immediately quit smoking, can do this gradually, reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking should be stopped no later than the 5th day from the start of treatment.

The effectiveness of TABEX is confirmed by the results of clinical studies. S. Stoyanov and M. Yanachkova (1972) conducted studies among 70 volunteers with a long history of smoking. Of these, 57.6% stopped smoking after treatment, in 31.4% of cases a partial positive result was obtained - a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked from 20-30 to 3-4 per day. A negative result was obtained in 11% of cases, which was due to premature and unfounded refusal of the course of treatment - even before the end of 3 days, that is, the period necessary to saturate the body with cytisine.

S. Vlaev and co-authors (2000) studied the effect of TABEX on patients with nicotine addiction and psychogenic, as well as periodic depression. TABEX was used in doses that were gradually increased, with the maximum daily dose was 15 mg (5 tablets 3 times a day). The authors observed a rapid regression of symptoms, and in patients with reactive depression, improvement occurred at the end of the 1st week of treatment, and in patients with periodic depression - at the end of the 2nd.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the effectiveness of TABEX (Schmidt F., 1974) included 180 patients. The results obtained indicate that 130 patients (72%) stopped smoking after the course of treatment.

Based on the results of clinical studies, the following general conclusion can be made about the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug TABEX:

• The drug was studied in 1,045 volunteers and compared with approximately 400 patients taking a placebo and more than 1,500 patients taking other drugs to treat nicotine addiction. 55 to 72% of patients taking TABEX quit smoking.
• No serious ones noted side effects subject to the recommendations set out in the instructions for use.
• Improvement noted general condition patients due to the cessation of chronic nicotine intoxication.
• It is necessary to convince patients whose first course of treatment was unsuccessful to repeat it after 4–5 months.

Tobacco smoking is an important cause of premature deaths. On the other hand, tobacco smoking is one of the few causes that threaten people's health that can be quite easily influenced. TABEX is a real chance to quit smoking, change your life for the better and stay healthy.

Oleg Mazurenko

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Why does life stop making us happy? Because she often submits to a bad habit, which then turns into addiction.

Fighting addiction means harming yourself, as the body experiences stress, which greatly undermines your health¹. How to eradicate bad habits in yourself?

You need to develop other habits! Of course, the old chair has become attached to my soul, but the new one is more comfortable.

How to get rid of bad habits?

“I didn’t give up smoking, I gave up nicotine addiction, that is, now I only enjoy the process itself. Using this technique, I quit smoking, although I smoked a lot.”

Nicotine addiction getting in the way? Replace it with another habit!

Not all people have willpower, and habit is sometimes stronger than us. Therefore, to get rid of nicotine addiction, you need to develop another habit instead.

“I have always loved smoking, I really did, especially after eating or drinking tea. I left this habit and developed another one instead.

How to do it?

If you enjoy smoking, but you don't like the fact that you are drawn to smoke, say, at the wrong time or in the wrong place, then try turning smoking into a ritual²!

“I enjoy smoking, the process itself, I smoke slowly, after sniffing the cigarette, and the habit of thinking while doing this has developed on its own.

Now, when I want to think, I go out onto the loggia, sit down in a comfortable chair, take a good cigarette, a beautiful ashtray and begin to enjoy the process.

So the desire to smoke anyhow and anywhere gradually disappeared. I began to smoke 4 times less than before, while maintaining both my health and finances.”

Buy a pack of expensive cigarettes with less tar and nicotine for pleasure.

Make it a rule to smoke as many cigarettes as you set for yourself as a norm, do not break it, because you are developing a new habit! By doing this you will not commit violence against yourself, and the new habit will quickly replace the old one.

And finally, if you want to quit smoking completely³, it will be much easier to give up the habit than an addiction.

Rodima Kinash

Notes and feature articles for deeper understanding of the material

¹ Read the article about what diseases are caused by stress and negative thoughts.

WHO classifies smoking as one of the most dangerous addictions, along with alcoholism and drug addiction. Cigarette smoke contains so many harmful substances that they can be used to compose the ABC of toxicity. Constant use of smoke negatively affects a person’s financial situation, since he needs to spend all his time on tobacco, and in the near future, also on treating its consequences. At the same time, cigarette consumption in the world is hardly decreasing, and wider and wider social strata are being drawn into the addiction.

Treatment of nicotine addiction is only one aspect of the problem from which the fight for one’s health begins. Should not be discounted and psychological factor, since smoking is a social habit. A former smoker will have to find other ways to communicate that do not necessarily cause harm to his body. Experts argue about the existence of a real addiction comparable to a drug addiction.

WHY IS IT HARD TO QUIT SMOKING?

There is only one medical aspect to this problem: tobacco smoke contains nicotine in large quantities, which is well absorbed into the blood. This enzyme is necessary for the functioning of the stomach and brain, it normalizes metabolism. After 12-24 months of active smoking, the body stops producing nicotine, which creates an effect similar to “withdrawal syndrome.” It certainly cannot be compared with the withdrawal symptoms experienced by drug users, but the pleasant sensations are still not enough.

Therefore, nicotine addiction is not a myth, but a reality, and it has already been described in various studies. But the seriousness of the problem should not be exaggerated. After all, drug addicts completely block the production of a number of enzymes, which is almost impossible to cure without medical intervention (detoxification). For smokers, the situation is completely different, and therefore the path to freedom is shorter and simpler.

VARIOUS REMEDIES ARE USED AS TREATMENTS:

1. Nicotine patches and gum. At first, until the body learns to produce this enzyme again, it can be obtained from the external environment - in the form of lozenges, caramels and other methods.
2. Coding. A popular way to get rid of nicotine addiction works only on suggestible people: the patient is instilled with the idea that smoking will lead to death. This method is unscientific and very dangerous for the psyche, and can cause neuroses.
3. Psychological help. Another thing is the help of a qualified narcologist who specializes in the treatment of such diseases. In combination with medications, the percentage of cured patients is very high. A specialist helps not only understand the causes of addiction, but also teaches how to fight it.
4. Medical supplies. Doctors cite varenicline and bupropion as the most popular options. These substances allow you to easily and painlessly endure the “withdrawal syndrome,” which often occurs in recovering smokers. However, before using medications, you should consult a doctor, as they may have Negative influence on the body and have side effects.

ARE THERE STEPS TO NICOTINE ADDICTION?

Any disease occurs systemically: from the moment of its onset to a severe form, in which cure is almost impossible. Nicotine addiction is divided into conditional stages: early, middle and late. At the very beginning, the disease is characterized by a small amount negative effects and minimal impact on the body. You can give up a bad habit without outside intervention or medications.

The second stage is typical for smokers with 2 years of experience. Since the body has already forgotten how to produce nicotine on its own, it will have to be obtained from outside within 2-6 months after quitting tobacco. At later stages (from 10 years and above), if there are irreversible changes in the functioning of the lungs and bronchi, serious health care, including detoxification of the body.

CONSEQUENCES OF TOBACCO SMOKING:

1. Lung diseases. A wide range of illnesses, from asthma to oncology, inevitably lead to a long and painful death.
2. Vascular angina. It is extremely difficult for the body to cope with any type of physical activity, even a banal climb up the stairs.
3. Wear and tear of the heart. Excessively high loads lead to the development of pathologies that will inevitably result in chronic diseases, premature aging and death.
4. Poisoning of the body with toxic substances. In addition to nicotine, hundreds of compounds contained in smoke have a harmful effect on tissue, bones, teeth and hair.
5. Infertility. Both men and women will be unable to give birth to healthy offspring, and children will develop serious illnesses from childhood.

INFLUENCE OF TOBACCO SMOKE ON THE YOUNG GENERATION:

1. Degeneration of the body. Defects in the development of the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver lead to the fact that young smokers will live 10-20 years less than their “clean” fellow tribesmen, and their quality of life will be much lower.
2. Decrease in cognitive functions and abilities. It becomes difficult for children and adolescents to study, assimilate new information, and remember data that is important to them.
3. Formation of other bad habits. It has been noted that people who smoke are more likely to drink alcohol and become victims of drug addiction.
4. Financial difficulties. Even with irregular smoking (about 2-3 packs per week), a young man will need about $200 annually, but this money can be spent on more useful purposes.

Thus, among all treatment methods, the most preferable option is medication, as well as psychological personality correction. Eliminating the symptoms of addiction alone will lead to a relapse of the disease, so the help of a psychologist is extremely important for effective recovery.

Currently everything more people start the fight against smoking. Many smokers wonder how to get rid of nicotine addiction quickly and easily. There is no specific scheme for getting rid of nicotine addiction. You just need to find a way to quit smoking that suits you.

How to get rid of nicotine addiction

The first thing that prevents a person from quitting smoking is willpower. First you need to decide that you are ready to give up the addiction and are determined to go all the way. The second factor that delays quitting nicotine addiction is the lack of support from loved ones. You can get rid of nicotine addiction even so that your health will improve, you will realize your desires, and save a decent amount of money.

Proven methods for overcoming nicotine addiction

To quit smoking forever, you need to set a time frame within which you think you will definitely quit the bad habit. The optimal period for quitting smoking is 50 days. This period may be shorter, but should not exceed 2 months. A person is designed in such a way that long-term abstinence from the usual norm of nicotine can increase the desire to return to cigarettes.

Please note that the longer the process of quitting smoking takes place, the worse the nervous system copes.

Habit Analysis

Very often, smokers cannot get rid of nicotine addiction only because it is simply a habit that forces them to smoke. The habit is to take out a cigarette, hold it in your hands, and roll the tobacco with your fingers. Smoking helps a person communicate; when he conducts a dialogue, the smoker understands that at any moment he can light a cigarette and calm down his nervous tics. Need to figure out why you need a cigarette? Perhaps smoking somehow helps you improve your communication skills or calms your nerves after stress. As soon as you spend full analysis habits, you can safely quit smoking.

Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked

If you have been smoking for many years, it will be difficult for you to quit cigarettes once and for all. In this case, you should try to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke during the day. Every day it will be easier to get rid of nicotine addiction. When the number of cigarettes smoked per day is zero, the craving for cigarettes should be completely eradicated. Even the minimum number of puffs of cigarette smoke is not allowed, as this will cause you to return to smoking.

When quitting smoking, it is recommended not to drink coffee, strong tea, or too salty or spicy foods. Adjust your inner state. The thought of smoking should make you feel disgusting. Try not to be in public smoking rooms and stand next to people who smoke in front of you.

Doctors recommend adhering to step-by-step tactics. First you need to put your emotions in order, decide for yourself exactly whether you want to get rid of nicotine addiction or not. After these manipulations, you can proceed to medical interventions. A common method of getting rid of nicotine addiction is coding. For the method to work 100%, you need to find a good clinic that will guarantee results. There are not many such specialized clinics.

Nicotine addiction can be treated in the following ways:

• Emotional. If you take control of your emotions and set your priorities correctly, you can cope with the craving for smoking only emotionally, without the use of drugs.
• Medication. This method of treatment means the use of any drugs that contain nicotine. The essence of the method is psychological withdrawal. For example, you were prescribed lollipops with nicotine and with every craving for smoking, you take not a cigarette, but a lollipop. Over time, the craving for smoking decreases.
• Clinical. The treatment method is designed for severe nicotine addiction, where a person is not able to cope with the problem on his own. The smoker goes to the hospital, where he receives medications with nicotine. Also in the hospital they conduct therapeutic trainings, communication takes place among dependent people.

Whatever type of treatment the patient chooses, it should be understood that quitting smoking is only the beginning of the fight against nicotine addiction. According to statistics, most people return to their addiction again after quitting smoking. People who quit smoking on their own are more likely than others to return to using cigarettes.

Abrupt cessation of smoking can affect both the physical and mental state of a person.

Unreasonable panic attacks and constant irritability during the period of quitting smoking can ruin the life of both the person himself and his family and friends.

"Afobazole" is an anti-anxiety drug that can have a beneficial effect in the fight against withdrawal syndrome when quitting smoking.

Read more about the drug.

Taking into account well-chosen therapy and gradual cessation of cigarettes, all unfavorable symptoms can be relieved to one degree or another.

Special exercises when quitting smoking will not only distract from unpleasant sensations and obsessive desires, but will also contribute to the healing of the body.

Perhaps every smoker once has the thought of giving up the addiction. But, let's be honest, not everyone succeeds. Most often, the transition to healthy image life is hampered by a banal fear: not being able to cope, giving up, not being able to endure all the difficulties of getting rid of addiction. We will look at what obstacles await a person in the fight against his habit, how to survive the period of adaptation to a new life, and what methods and means will help you quit smoking once and for all.

The dangers of smoking: how many times have they told the world...

Everyone, young and old, knows about the dangers of smoking: cigarette packs are full of threatening pictures and inscriptions, sad statistics are cited by the media, doctors describe dire consequences this addiction. According to WHO, about 5 million people die annually in the world from pathologies caused by smoking, or 8 people per second.

Here is just a short list of diseases caused by inhalation of tobacco smoke:

• Lungs' cancer. Research shows that up to 90% of all cases of this pathology are associated with tobacco smoking.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to doctors, about 80% of patients with this disease are smokers.
• Malignant tumors of the larynx. More than 90% of cancer patients are experienced smokers.
• Impotence. The risk of this disease is directly proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked daily: a pack a day will increase the likelihood of impotence by 24%, and two - by 40%.
• Infertility. In women who smoke, the risk of this pathology increases by 60%.
• Decreased vision. Smoking provokes damage to the retina - macular degeneration.

Also don't forget about aesthetic problems that nicotine addiction causes: bad breath, permanent plaque on teeth, accelerated skin aging, brittle nails and hair. You can get rid of all these consequences by returning to a healthy lifestyle and giving up the bad habit forever.

Is there an easy way to quit smoking?

According to research, addiction to nicotine is much stronger than to alcohol and many types of drugs. Therefore, the process of getting rid of a habit is accompanied by “withdrawal” or, more correctly, withdrawal syndrome. And the more years you have not parted with a cigarette, the more difficult it is to go through the process of quitting smoking.

Almost everyone initially tries to overcome the tendency to smoke on their own, but this is not effective in all cases. For those who consumed no more than ten cigarettes a day, willpower and a set of non-medicinal techniques, which we will consider below, are usually sufficient. Those with many years of “smoking experience” should not count on quick and easy results; it is better to immediately select comprehensive measures to relieve withdrawal symptoms. If necessary, you can contact a specialist - a psychologist or narcologist.

The Ministry of Health did not warn about this: possible negative consequences of abruptly quitting smoking

Everyone constantly talks about how giving up a bad habit has a beneficial effect on the body: blood pressure and circulation are normalized, lung function is restored, the risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases are reduced, coughing, hoarseness and shortness of breath disappear... However, most sources do not remember what to abruptly quit smoking means subjecting both the psyche and the human body to enormous stress. Most often, withdrawal symptoms have the following symptoms:

• Cough, which occurs due to the cleansing of the lungs from accumulated tars and harmful substances.
• Decreased immunity. A smoker's body gets used to dealing with a lot of harmful substances every day. After the “strikes” disappear, the immune system weakens for some time and the frequency of colds, sores appear in the mouth.
• Indigestion. Since nicotine is actively involved in the functioning of the digestive organs, on the first day after you quit smoking, your stomach may hurt, and diarrhea or constipation is often observed.
• Hunger. The need to “chew” the stress caused by quitting smoking becomes the cause excess weight and resulting psychological problems.
• Nervousness, depression, mood swings- frequent companions of ex-smokers. Characterized by difficulties in communicating with loved ones and colleagues, irritability, and possible nervous breakdowns.

Dizziness and lethargy (usually lasting one to two days), headaches and insomnia may also occur occasionally.

But there is no need to be afraid of these problems! Firstly, remember that each body is individual, and for you everything can go almost unnoticed. Secondly, any difficulties can be overcome: with the correct selection of therapy and gradual cessation of cigarettes, all symptoms can be relieved to one degree or another.

How to overcome withdrawal syndrome and not start smoking again?

The first step in overcoming nicotine addiction is usually associated with the volitional decision of the smoker. But the further path may include various methods.

Non-drug methods

For those whose smoking history is calculated in years or even decades, quitting cigarettes becomes a global lifestyle change. To simplify the task, refer to simple and effective methods:

• Read. Do not neglect literature that will set you up to give up cigarettes. For example, the most famous book “The Easy Way to Quit Smoking” by Alain Carr has not without reason gained worldwide popularity - with its help, many people have been able to get rid of their bad habit on their own. But books about Sherlock Holmes or about the technology of growing tobacco will have to be postponed until better times.
• Share your experiences. Scientists have found that quitters complain about the difficulty of quitting cigarettes, constant desire smoking helps to get rid of addiction. Psychotherapy, including group therapy, communication with “comrades in misfortune” in person or online can give strength in the most difficult struggle, relieve irritability and nervousness.
• Play sports. Swimming, running and other physical activities will not only distract you from unpleasant sensations and obsessive desires, but will also contribute to the health of your body. For example, they will help cope with coughs that accompany smoking cessation.
• Control your diet. Weight gain after quitting cigarettes is a significant problem, especially for women: with every extra kilos the experiences intensify, and with them comes the desire to smoke again. To avoid getting into this vicious circle, review your diet from the first days: more fresh vegetables, dairy products and fruits rich in vitamin C.
• Get carried away. An interesting hobby is an excellent “protector” from any obsessions and habits. Calculate how much money you had to spend on cigarettes every month: perhaps now you can afford a long-awaited trip, pay for handicraft courses or collect trinkets that are pleasant to your heart.

Pharmacological agents

Non-medicinal methods help rebuild your life, take your mind off thoughts about cigarettes, and give you strength and confidence to fight the bad habit, but they do not completely eliminate psychological and physical cravings, as well as many manifestations of withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, drug manufacturers have created products that help cope with these problems.

• Nicotine replacement therapy
  To quit smoking, it is not necessary to immediately give up the main substance that provokes addiction - nicotine. But it can be obtained not only from cigarettes: patches, sprays, chewing gum and lozenges, which contain small portions of nicotine without additional harmful substances. The use of nicotine-containing products helps reduce the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome and increase the likelihood of finally getting rid of the bad habit by approximately 2–2.5 times. The main brands under which such drugs are produced are Nicotex, Nicorette, Nicoderm, Nicogum, Nicotinell, Thrive, Commit.
  Contrary to popular belief, e-Sigs and vaporizers are not an officially approved and safe alternative to conventional ones, so their use when quitting smoking is not recommended.
• Nicotinic receptor agonists
  There are medications that act directly on the receptors that perceive nicotine. The use of such drugs leads to the fact that the smoker ceases to enjoy cigarettes or even experiences disgust for them. Thus, if you try to smoke while taking medication, you will not be able to experience the same sensations. Nicotinic receptor agonist drugs include Champix, Lobelin, Lobesil, cytisine-based drugs and others. In terms of effectiveness, they are slightly inferior to the previous group of substances, increasing the chances of successfully quitting smoking by approximately 1.5–1.7 times.
• Antidepressants and sedatives
  Anti-depression medications help eliminate psychological problems associated with withdrawal symptoms: depression, irritability, nervousness. The most famous medicine in this group is Zyban. It does not affect nicotinic receptors, but supports high level an indicator of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. As a result, negative feelings when quitting smoking are significantly reduced.
  An equally well-known drug, but from the group of over-the-counter anxiolytics, is Afobazol. It has a sedative effect without depressing the nervous system. When taken, there is a decrease in irritability, nervousness and other symptoms associated with quitting smoking. Among the advantages is the almost complete absence of contraindications and side effects, including drowsiness, decreased reaction and others.

Expert opinion

A representative of the manufacturing company talks about the effect of the drug “Afobazol” on the body of someone who quits smoking:

"Afobazole" is an anti-anxiety drug that can have a beneficial effect in the fight against withdrawal syndrome when quitting smoking. In addition, it stimulates activity and encourages a person to solve problems. According to clinical research, 78% of patients become less irritable and their mood improves. 70% of patients demonstrate improved performance and less fatigue. Most of the subjects noted the return of strength and self-confidence, and a decrease in emotional cravings for smoking. "Afobazole" does not have side effects such as drowsiness, lethargy, and others characteristic of anti-anxiety drugs and classical tranquilizers. It is worth noting that the drug is not addictive and the patient will not have to deal with another withdrawal syndrome after stopping use.”

Smoking is an addiction that can become extremely severe forms. But even in these cases, giving up a bad habit is possible. The main thing is a reasonable approach, which includes a set of psychological measures and taking medications.