![]() Be ready with a distraction, a plan of action, and other ways to re-direct your thoughts. After you write down the thought, let it go and move on. Look out for them, because they always show up when you’re trying to quit. As you go through the first few days without tobacco, write down rationalizations as they come up and recognize them for what they are – messages that can trick you into going back to smoking/chewing. “Air pollution is probably just as bad.”.“How bad is smoking/chewing, really? Uncle Harry smoked/chewed all his life and he lived to be over 90.”.“I'll just do it once to get through this rough spot.”.If you’ve tried to quit before, you might recognize many of these common rationalizations: If you choose to believe in such a thought even for a short time, it can serve as a way to justify using tobacco. A rationalization is a mistaken thought that seems to make sense at the time, but isn’t based on reality. One way to overcome urges or cravings is to notice and identify rationalizations as they come up. This is why, even if you’re using nicotine replacement therapy, you may still have strong urges to smoke or chew. ![]() ![]() It will take time to “un-link” tobacco from these activities. If you’ve been using tobacco for any length of time, it has become linked with a lot of the things you do – waking up in the morning, eating, reading, watching TV, and drinking coffee, for example. Most people who use tobacco find that the mental part of quitting is the bigger challenge. Nicotine replacement and other medicines can help reduce many of these symptoms. Still, if you’re not ready to resist them, they can tempt you to go back to smoking or chewing. The physical symptoms are annoying but not life-threatening. Withdrawal from nicotine has 2 parts – the physical and the mental. This is because the body has to get used to not having nicotine. When a person quits tobacco, they also quit nicotine and will likely have withdrawal from it. When a person uses tobacco, many parts of the body get used to having nicotine in them. NRT includes nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and sprays that provide a cleaner dose of nicotine without the toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in chewing tobacco.ĭoctors can also prescribe medicines like Champix and Zyban to help you quit.Nicotine is the main addictive substance in tobacco. Heavy users of chewing tobacco may also want to consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to reduce their cravings and to lessen their withdrawal symptoms. These substitutes take the physical place of chew in the mouth and they can help keep you distracted. ![]() Many people who quit find it helpful to replace chewing tobacco with a healthier substitute, like sunflower seeds, beef jerky or chewing gum. But just like smoking, it is possible to stop using chewing tobacco. How can I quit?Ĭhewing tobacco is highly addictive. This buzz can momentarily change the way you think, feel and even act. This means more nicotine gets into your bloodstream, which causes a buzz that regular chewing tobacco users can begin to crave. Having a regular amount of chew in your mouth for 30 minutes will give you as much nicotine as three cigarettes. How does chewing tobacco compare to smoking?Ĭhewing tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes and can be even more difficult to quit than smoking. Regular chewing tobacco use is linked to higher heart attack risks too, since it is known to raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Heavy users might also notice that their teeth can start to get worn down and stained by the chewing tobacco, which can also cause the gums to recede. What are the health risks?Ĭhewing tobacco can cause many types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, gums, stomach, oesophagus (throat) and bladder. Plus, chewing tobacco, or snuff, can be even more addictive than smoking cigarettes. It helps to remember that just because you don’t smoke tobacco doesn’t mean it is safe to use. Is chewing tobacco as bad for your health as smoking?
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