SMOKING AND YOUR BRAIN
While most people understand that the nicotine in cigarettes is addictive, only a small number of smokers are able to quit each year. This is because the nicotine delivered in tobacco smoke results in changes in the structure of the brain making it hard to quit with willpower alone.
Nicotine works by attaching to receptors in your brain (nicotinic receptors), which are involved in body functions like muscle movement, breathing, heart rate and memory. Nicotine also affects the parts of the brain that producde good feelings like pleasure, arousal and relaxation. Over time, more nicotine receptors are produced and as a result more nicotine is needed to reach and maintain the same level of effect. If your brain suddenly stops receiving nicotine, you're likely to experience nasty cravings that are hard to overcome with willpower alone.
Tobacco-delivered nicotine also re-trains your brain to connect the things you do everyday with familiar cravings. When you're having a coffee, talking on the phone, driving or taking a break at work, your brain craves the nicotine it associates with these times. Therapeutic nicotine delivered via Nicabate patches, lozenge and gum release a steady stream to help you wean the nicotine receptors off gradually, reducing cravings, and giving you and your willpower a fighting chance to quit.