Laser Treatments: Another Option For Smoking Cessation

Laser treatment for smoking cessation may sound like an odd approach since lasers are used more for surgeries and cosmetic procedures in mainstream medicine. More common techniques to stop smoking are hypnotherapy, nicotine replacement patches or gum, and acupuncture. Now beams of light are also used in clinics to help smokers finally quit this unhealthy habit.



This new method is used in a similar manner to acupuncture, where different points on the body are stimulated to release endorphins. Theoretically, the endorphins help to alleviate a person's craving for nicotine. Practitioners use a "cool beam" laser, so the patient does not feel any pain. Like acupuncture, the light treatments may require more than a single session to be completely effective. The beams are not invasive and they do not involve drugs or other chemicals. There are no negative side effects to this new method as long as the technician uses proper procedures. A downside to consider is the higher cost of this method compared to traditional ones. One must also note that like any of the other therapies mentioned, there is no guarantee of success. However, for those who have tried the other techniques and were not successful, lasers just may be worth a go.



There are many varying professional opinions online about laser treatment for smoking cessation. Some claim it is not effective and a waste of money, while others cite large success rates for this treatment. In the end, it does provide another viable and safe option to people who struggle to stop smoking for good.

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.