Smoking carries unhealthy, negative repercussions for your health, career and love life. It is better to give up smoking sooner rather than later. If you feel it will be difficult for you to quit smoking, and you fear withdrawal symptoms and cravings, don’t worry. Smoking cessation drugs such as Chantix and Zyban can help you out. Find out below how harmful and addictive smoking is and how you can quit smoking with the help of medications and aids.

The long-term health effects of smoking

Smoking for more than 5 years can cause a variety of health problems. From respiratory disorders such as bronchitis to emphysema and the increased risks of cancers to brain hemorrhage, smoking brings about all these serious health risks. Smoking also leads to various aggravating health problems such as ulcers, laryngitis, high blood pressure, reduced immunity, reproductive problems and osteoporosis. Smokers tend to get tired and depressed easily and the added strain of health problems, make life even more difficult for them.

The permanent effect on various parts of the human body

Smoking can cause several irreversible permanent health problems. The habit of smoking for 5 to 10 years can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tumor development, circulatory problems to the heart, brain and legs, loss of vision or vision problems, hip fractures and osteoporosis. It is important to quit smoking before you develop these permanent effects.

Probable causes of addiction

The addiction to smoking is caused by nicotine, a harmful ingredient of cigarettes. When we inhale tobacco smoke, nicotine heads straight to the brain and activates the cells in the brain that control pleasure and emotional sensations. By activating these cells, we receive temporary pleasure. Our brain becomes used to this pleasure if we smoke regularly, and demands it time and time again. This process evolves to addiction. Sometimes behavioral addiction plays an important part in smoking. This takes place if a smoker is addicted to the act of smoking rather than its ingredients.

Recommended medications and aids

If a smoker is hooked on cigarettes because of nicotine, several aids and drugs can help. Chantix, Zyban and nicotine replacement therapy are some of the recommended medications and aids that are available on the market. If he or she is addicted due to some psychological or environmental pressure, behavior modification and counseling is needed for smoking cessation. Chantix and Zyban are the 2 most popular medications for smoking cessation. Both these drugs are clinically proven and FDA approved. Consult a doctor or a healthcare professional to find out how to quit smoking for good.