Nicotine Gum is very similar to the nicotine patch, in the sense that it aids the smoker quit by supplying him/her with the nicotine they are addicted to. The nicotine is absorbed through the tissues in the mouth, and into the bloodstream, satisfying the smoker with nicotine while preventing them from smoking all the toxins in a cigarette.

Each cigarette contains around 1mg of nicotine, and nicotine gum usually contains between 2mg-4mg of nicotine (the equivalency of 2-4 cigarettes). Before the late 1990s, nicotine gum was only available through a prescription, now you can buy it over the counter at almost every pharmacy in North America and Europe.

There is a method to using the gum which will increase its potential. First, you should only chew the gum whenever you are absolutely craving a cigarette. You chew the gum until you notice a “peppery tingle”, and that is when you press the gum between your cheeks and gums. This is to allow the nicotine to enter your bloodstream through the tissues in your gums and cheeks, rather than your tongue (it is a lot more difficult for the nicotine to travel through your tongue to your bloodstream, than your cheeks/gums to your bloodstream). When the “peppery tingle” stops, you must start chewing again to get it back. Once it is back, once again you press it against your cheeks and gums but this time in a different area of your mouth. You repeat this method until there is no more “peppery tingle” senstation (usually about 25-40 minutes after you begin chewing), and this means that there is no more nicotine left in the gum.

While using this method, you are still addicted to nicotine and in the end, your will power is still what will make you overcome your addiction. There is a potential to becoming addicted to the gum itself because the gum does not eliminate your nicotine addiction. With proper doses of the gum, and some will power, you should be able to overcome your addiction.

**NOTE: These are general guidelines on how to use the nicotine gum. KickSmokingASAP.com is not responsible for any mishaps that may occur by using the nicotine gum. Make sure you consult a doctor before using the gum.

Tobacco and smoking are detrimental to the development of your muscles. Smoking causes respiratory problems, meaning that it is harder for smokers to breathe than non-smokers. If you have trouble breathing, there is less oxygen going to your muscles and you have less energy. If you have less energy, than it is harder for you to develop your muscles. Smoking means that you cannot train your muscles for as long.

Smoking in general destroys pretty much all types of body cells, which include your muscle cells. Your heart itself is a muscle, and tobacco/smoking create numerous problems for your heart and lead to diseases. Smokers are also more likely to have back and muscle pain than non smokers, because their cells are constantly being damaged. Smokers also have a reduced blood flow, so there is less blood coming/going to the bones and muscles.

Smokers are more likely to develop lupus than non smokers. Lupus is a disease which effects the joints, and will make it more difficult for you to move. Smokers are also more likely to develop arthritis, which is similar to lupus and effects your joints.

Overall, smoking does not directly damage your muscle system, however it causes numerous other diseases and problems which end up creating a problem for your muscles. If you are a body builder or athlete, smoking is something you should quit immediately because it is holding you back from your full physical potential and you will never reach the level you are capable of if you continue to smoke.

Nicotine patches are one of the most common and, arguably, effective methods used to quit smoking. By using a nicotine patch, you allow your body to take in the nicotine, which you would normally recieve from smoking, in order to eliminate the cigarette cravings you may experience. Although the goal is to get rid of the nicotine addiction altogether, the patch allows you to quit tobacco one step at a time, with the first step being to actually stop smoking.

The nicotine patch generally comes in several different doses between 5-25mg. It is recommended that you leave it on between 14-24 hours (at least while you’re awake). It is most effective when used while you’re awake, so put it on first thing when you wake up, however some people choose to leave it on for 24 hours. If you have trouble sleeping at night with the patch, remove it before you sleep. You can apply the patch anywhere on your body, but most people choose to place it on their hips or upper arm (make sure there is no hair in the area you place the patch).

Depending on how long you’ve been smoking and how much you smoke a day, you will need to determine which dose of the patch you should start off with. For the average smoker, who smokes between 3/4 - 1 whole pack a day, you should start off with a patch between 15-25mg and work your way down to 5-15mg after 6 weeks, and as soon as you feel you are not craving cigarettes any longer, you can stop using the patch.

A general guideline between how many milligrams of a nicotine patch you should take are how many cigarettes you smoke in a day. 1 cigarette is usually 1mg of nicotine, so if you are smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes a day, start off with a 20mg patch.

**NOTE: These are general guidelines on how to use the nicotine patch. KickSmokingASAP.com is not responsible for any mishaps that may occur by using the nicotine patch. Make sure you consult a doctor before going on the patch.