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Nicotine Replacement Therapy On The Essential Medicines List

Nicotine Replacement Therapy On The Essential Medicines List

Published On: June 1, 2020 | Duration: 0 MIN, 50 SEC

Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. Dr Vinayak Prasad, Coordinator, No Tobacco Unit, World Health Organization adds that Nicotine Replacement Therapy can actually help people quit tobacco. NRT is basically available in the form of patches and chewing gums and can really help curb smoking cravings.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy On The Essential Medicines List

Health Benefits Of Giving Up Smoking

There are immediate and long-term health benefits of quitting for all smokers. Some of the beneficial health changes that take place are:

Within 20 minutes:
Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drop
Within 12 hours:
And if you have not smoked for 12-hours, carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
In 2-12 weeks:
Circulation improves and your lung function increases
In 1-9 months:
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease for a person who has quit smoking
Within 1 year:
Risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker's
In 5 years:
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting smoking
In 10 years time:
Risk of lung cancer falls to about half of that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases

Nicotine Replacement Therapy On The Essential Medicines List

Health Benefits Of Giving Up Smoking

Within 20 minutes:

Within 12 hours:

In 2-12 weeks:

In 1-9 months:

Within 1 year:

In 5 years:

In 10 years time:

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