Here at the Bodies Exhibit, people see the effects of smoking and toss their cigarettes into this box. Some people will be able to quit cold turkey… just deciding one day that they’ve had enough. But quitting cold turkey is hard… and doesn’t work for a lot of people. In fact it takes most people several tries before they are able to quit successfully. If quitting cold turkey isn’t working, don’t give up. There are smoking cessation programs, some offered by local governments and employers that can really help. There are also some medical options available, which we’ll cover. Before we talk about these you need to know that some treatments come with side effects, so consider these carefully with your doctor before starting any program. One of the most common strategies for quitting smoking is what’s called nicotine replacement therapy, which gradually weens you from the addictive quality of nicotine.. These therapies can also help relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms. Let’s break these down one by one. First, the patch. The patch is an over-the-counter treatment. Basically, it slowly releases nicotine into your bloodstream through your skin. You’ll place a patch on your body, replacing it every day with a new one over the course of the treatment. The standard length of therapy is 8 weeks, and the dosage will be lowered as the therapy progresses. Next, nicotine gum is also available over the counter without a prescription. In this case, when the gum is chewed and then placed between the cheek and gum, the nicotine is released through the lining of the mouth into the bloodstream. In general, to keep the nicotine in the body, a new piece of gum can be chewed about every 1 to 2 hours. Gradually, you chew less gum, until you don’t need it. The third over the counter replacement therapy is the lozenge. Like the gum, it’s placed between the cheek and gum to release the nicotine into the bloodstream. It is most effective when used every 1 or 2 hours. Now, there are also some prescription medications that can help. Again, they all come with side effects, so talk to your doctor about which ones may be a good fit for you. The first are nasal sprays, which are another type of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The typical treatment lasts 12 weeks, and you may need up to 30 sprays a day. Like the gum and patch, the dosage is lowered over time. Next are nicotine inhalers. These deliver nicotine in a vaporized form through a mouthpiece. Unlike smoking, the nicotine isn’t sent to the lungs … instead, most of the nicotine is absorbed in the mouth and throat. Some smokers say the inhaler fulfills the same hand-to-mouth urge involved in the ritual of smoking. A type of antidepressant called buproprion may be prescribed. It can be used together with nicotine replacement therapies or by itself to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. And, a drug called Varenicline can also help. These don’t contain any nicotine, and actually work by blocking the effect of nicotine on your brain. So, smoking doesn’t give you the same satisfaction, helping you to quit. Finally, some people prefer to try alternative therapies, like hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure or laser therapy. Though not proven, these therapies help people quit smoking, but they may help reduce the symptoms you might feel with nicotine withdrawal, like stress, anxiety or insomnia. A good rule for these therapies…if it helps, give it a shot. Quitting smoking may be one of the hardest but most rewarding changes you will make in your lifetime. Your body,will start to heal and your friends and family will thank you for it. Thanks for being a part of HealthiNation. Be sure to watch other segments in and take control of your health.