Self Help

Nicotine gums can help you stop smoking, thereby reducing the ill effects that cigarettes have on high blood pressure. These gums come in different strengths. The two-milligram version is for people who smoke fewer than 25 cigarettes a day. The four-milligram version is for those who smoke that many or more. Both types are now available without a prescription. Nicotine gum is not a permanent solution. You’ll need to taper off the gum as your cigarette cravings disappear.

Here are a few basic rules from the American Lung Association:

1. Don’t smoke once you start using the gum.
2. Chew each piece slowly, making it last for about 30 minutes. If you slip the piece between your cheek and gum, the nicotine will be absorbed easier.
3. Chew enough gum to handle the cravings, but don’t go nuts. Ten to 15 pieces a day should be enough. Never use more than 30 pieces in a day.
4. Use the gum each day for about a month. Then start tapering off slowly. Chew it only when you feel a craving.
5. Quit chewing the gum altogether after about three months.