Varenicline: A Miracle for Smokers or Simply another False Hope?

Smokers have many incentives to quit smoking. The health risk of smoking is bigger today then at any other point in history. It seems that with each passing year more is known about cigarettes and the health problems that stem from them. The problem is not a lack of motivation or incentive on the smoker's part, but it is quite simply a hard addiction. There have been many stop-smoking aids that have been released in the last 15 years. Some of these include the Nicorette gum and the famous stop-smoking Patch. Recently however, there has been a new stop-smoking aid that has entered the market. Varenicline, sold under the name Chantix, has many people hopeful for a stop-smoking method that actually works.



Chantix was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is the first stop-smoking aid to be approved by the FDA in almost 10 years. This has many people excited about the possibility that it may actually work. Although there have been some very positive test results shown with Chantix, it is still currently in the testing phase, and not available to the mass market. More will be known on the effects of Chantix once it is released.



In a nutshell, Chantix works by attaching itself to nicotine receptors in the brain, which is supposed to help prevent cravings. It does not actually contain any nicotine, instead containing Cytisine, which is commonly referred to as "False Tobacco". This differs from most stop-smoking aids which contain certain amounts of nicotine.



It is difficult to tell at this point whether or not Chantix will become the be-all and end-all of the stop-smoking aid world. Until more is known and more studies have been done, people should use caution before hailing Chantix as a miracle drug.

Stop Smoking - Benefits Will Simply Follow

The best decision a chain smoker can make in his/her lifetime is deciding to quit smoking. Yes, this is the most vital part, once you show the courage of sacrificing the habit of smoking, you will be surprised at the amount of benefits you will have.



Health benefits



Stop smoking, benefits you will have aplenty. The first benefited will be your health after you stop smoking. This will drastically reduce the chances of smoking-related diseases, like lung cancer, heart attack, stroke, chronic lung diseases and other types of cancers.



After you quit smoking, you will find that there are improvements in your breathing problems, coughing and wheezing.



You will find it quite unbelievable, but yes it is true that after some minutes of your stopping smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your system will drop down to normal and the heart rate and blood pressure also drops. The women chain smokers especially gain huge health benefits by quitting smoking. Women have less chances of delivering a low birth weight baby when she stops smoking.



Appearance benefits



You might never have given a thought to it, but smoking adversely affects your appearance. Smoking causes you to have bad breath, foul smelling hair and clothes, early wrinkling of the skin and yellowing of the fingernails and hair. When you stop smoking, there will be a decease in the chances of having a gum disease and stained teeth.



Once you quit smoking you will notice considerable improvements in your appearance.



Other benefits



What's more, you stop smoking, benefits will follow. Other than having an improved health and appearance, you will have a good sense of smell and will be able to enjoy the taste of the food better. You will also have better energy to jump up the stairs and doing the laundry. Yes, just stop smoking and get back the youthful exuberance that seemed to be lost to smoking. You will not be experiencing any shortness of breath that you might be having in the past.



You can also use the money you are wasting on buying cigarettes for some good purpose. Definitely, it would be silly to use your money on something that will gradually worsen your health. Life expectancy is sure to lengthen once you stop smoking. Benefits will be never-ending.



Do not lose heart if you are 65 years old and want to quit smoking now. Just do it, as even at this age, you can still reduce the chances of dying due to smoke-related diseases by fifty percent. Remember, it is better late than never.