Whenever we talk about the side effects of consumption of tobacco, we generlly talk about the generic side effects. Smoking causes cancer. Smoking causes respiratory issues. Smoking leads to heart issues. And so on!
While all of this is true, we often forget talking about how specifically smoking effects a woman’s body. Men and women are different, they come with different anatomies and face different challenges. So smoking has some additional and different side effects on women’s bodies.
Now some of you might say that smoking is generally something that men only do. Especially in countries like India, smoking is definitely more popular with men but it is not that women do not smoke. You will be surprised to know that more than 12.1 million female smokers are in india. And the number of female smokers is rapidly growing in india. Several factors are responsible for the rise of female smokers in India. They range from changing social norms, increasing urbanization, exposure to tobacco marketing targeting women, stress, and a desire for empowerment and liberation. Additionally, shifts in societal perspectives, along with changing roles and aspirations of women in contemporary India, may also play a role in this trend.
While there are many reasons responsible for this rise, it is equally alarming as well. Hence, in today’s blog we will talk about some of the particular issues in which smoking impacts women’s body. In the end we will also introduce you to a revolutionary product that can help with smoking cessation. We are talking about Ryze nicotine gums.
But first, here is the list of areas that get affected by smoking in females:
1. Reproductive health
Smoking exerts many detrimental effects on women’s reproductive health. It not only diminishes the fertility rates and disrupts the menstrual cycle, it also creates a lot of issues in the ability to conceive. Moreover, smoking increases the chances of ectopic pregnancy – a dangerous condition. Smoking also prepones the onset of menopause – a natural process that generally takes place after 45 years.
2. Fetal growth
Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of miscarriage or stillbirth. It can also cause pregnancy complications and heighten the chances of low birth weight or preterm birth. It not only impacts the mother’s health but also hampers the well-being of the newborn.
3. Bone health
Bone health is critical for overall well being. Adequate bone density is required to ensure critical skeleton health. But as women age, they tend to lose vitamin D and hence are already at a heightened risk of having brittle bones or developing osteoporosis. The women who smoke are more susceptible to having a decreased bone density. This makes them more vulnerable to fractures.
- Premature aging
Aging is a natural phenomenon that happens to all. However, people who smoke tend to develop signs of aging quite rapidly. It can be seen in the form of saggy skin, appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. This happens to the collagen damage that is caused by smoking. The decreased blood flow in the skin makes it lose its natural glow and age prematurely.4. Increase in the chances of Breast cancer
While smoking can cause any type of cancer, it heightens the chances of women developing breast cancer. Especially in the case of perimenopausal or menopausal women, they should rethink smoking as it might increase the chances of developing cancer.5. Heart issues
While this is true for men as well, it is quite interesting to note that heart attacks are quite common in female smokers. When compared to non-smokers, smoking people are more vulnerable to developing coronary artery disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease.
Now that you have gone through the effects of smoking on women, we are sure that you will agree with us in saying that it is important to quit smoking for the overall wellbeing.
On that note, we will now introduce you to a product that can help in the quitting journey.
Nicotine gums are a type of Nicotine Replacement Therapy product. They are specially designed to help with smoking cessation by allowing you to put a controlled amount of nicotine in your body.
As nicotine cravings are one of the most difficult reasons that make quitting difficult, nicotine gums are designed to help fight them. When you chew on nicotine gums, they slowly release nicotine in your body that gets absorbed through the mouth’s membrane. This way your body gets a controlled amount of nicotine that is free of the harmful toxins of cigarette smoke and it does not experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
The idea is to start with a dose that matches your needs and eventually reduce the dose. This step-down approach helps in staying in charge and you slowly train your body to get used to the reduced dose.
However, using nicotine gums is absolutely safe, it is recommended to consult with a doctor before getting started. As nicotine gums are medicated products, it is important to get a consultation done as there are certain things that you need to be aware of. For instance, nicotine gums should not be consumed if you are pregnant or have had a recent episode of heart attack or stroke. Similarly, there is a specific way in which you need to consume them. All these instructions are critical for you to use them to their true potential.
In conclusion, you can take advantage of these medical products to get ride of the smoking habit and take a healthy step towards your overall wellbeing.