It's time to stop smoking

Did you know that within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.

After 20 minutes your heart rate drops. After 2 weeks your lungs begin to clear. Between 1 and 9 Months your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

After 10 years your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s and your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

Quitting smoking is a two-step process that includes: overcoming the physical addiction to nicotine, and breaking the smoking habit.

Nicotine replacement therapy, using patches or gum, helps take care of the nicotine addiction so that you can work on breaking the habit.

If you’ve looked into quitting you’ve seen the top name in the field, Nicoderm CQ, can be rather expensive, but don’t let that dissuade you from trying to quit. The Habitrol Patch is comparable to Nicodem and because they are a high volume purchaser of nicotine replacement therapy, they are able to purchase directly from the manufacturers, avoiding middlemen – saving you money.

Both are 3-Step programs, starting with Step 1 patches at 21 mg of nicotine, then Step 2 patches at 14 mg and finishing with Step 3 patches at 7 mg. The two programs are essentially equivalent. For Heavy Smokers, Nicoderm CQ suggests six weeks on Step 1 and Habitrol suggests four weeks. Our customers have been satisfied with either of the two suggestions.

How does the patch work?

The patch contains nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco products. When you wear a patch, it gradually releases nicotine into your bloodstream through the skin. By replacing some of the nicotine to which your body has become accustomed from smoking, the patch helps reduce your nicotine withdrawal symptoms. By following the 3-Step program you gradually wean your body of its nicotine cravings over an eight-week period until you are nicotine free.

Research has shown that smokers who use patches or gum as nicotine replacement therapy and participate in a behavior change program can double their chances of quitting.

Quitting can really feel good - physically as well as emotionally. Quitting is taking back more control of your life.