BANGALORE: The seven-day and 10-day quitting plans; nicotine skin patches and chewing gum or even a "cold turkey" to end smoking.

Some of these measures work and some don't for particular people. "Smoking is injurious to health and also the fastest way to get nicotine into the system," says Sunanda Murthy, psychotherapist. She has had smokers referred to her by their doctors and families to help them quit.

Addiction

Smoking is an addiction because it delivers nicotine very fast to the brain: within 10 to 15 seconds. There nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine that makes you feel good. "Nicotine can make you more relaxed depending on what you expect from it and the situation.," she says.

Nicotine patches, now available at some bigger chemists, are still expensive but fairly effective. They release nicotine into the body in gradually lesser doses to help you get over the withdrawal symptoms. "They work better if you have a real inclination to quit and are encouraged to do so by your wife or children. A reluctant quitter never really succeeds because he or she wants to always sneak in a smoke," says Dr. Murthy.

Physicians say that while nicotine itself has not been found to cause cancer, cigarettes contain a number of carcinogens from the tar, released by the burning tobacco and cigarette paper. A number of harmful chemicals are released into the system along with nicotine.

Apart from cancer, cardio vascular diseases are another health risk.

"Why a person smokes needs serious study as does why he or she wants to quit.

There are actors and fashion models who smoke to suppress their appetite and stay thin and serious research workers who smoke because they believe it helps their concentration. In both cases we suggest alternatives which are less harmful," she says.

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