Effects of Nicotine Gum on Health

As a part of nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine gum was invented in order to help people give up the harmful habit of smoking. As the name suggests, nicotine gum consists of a small amount of nicotine that has the ability to replace that available in cigarettes to a certain extent. Instead of popping a cigarette whenever the urge arises, you are asked to pop a piece of nicotine gum and chew it in a very specific manner so that it can satisfy your urge to smoke without exposing to you all the harmful chemicals that a cigarette contains. Since kicking the habit is so difficult for many, they have found relief by chewing this gum. However, there is also something known as nicotine gum addiction that can be quite harmful in the long run. The amount consumed in the long run becomes significant and then shows by way of several symptoms that are exhibited by the body. Here, we discuss the short and long-term effects of nicotine gum on health.

Short-Term Effects

Because the body finds the other compounds in nicotine gum new, you may find yourself exhibiting some common side effects that include:

• Dry mouth
• Pain in the jaw
• Sweating
• Burning sensation in the mouth (if not chewed as per instruction)
• Joint pain
• Trouble falling asleep
• Itching and Redness
• Muscle pain
• Lightheadedness
• Heartburn (particularly in those who already have acidity problems)
• Stomach upset and nausea

These are some common side effects that are you may find explained on the leaflet accompanying the pack of nicotine gum. However, if you find yourself exhibiting severe side effects such as an allergic reaction to the gum in terms of hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of any part of the face, severe dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, severe fatigue, or problems of the jaw or mouth, it is important that you visit your doctor immediately. Every body type is different and as such, the side effects on each person may vary largely. In any case, if you notice anything severely unusual after chewing the nicotine gum, you must visit your doctor at the earliest.

Long-Term Effects

After seeing yourself through the mild and instant side effects of chewing nicotine gum, if you have found yourself addicted to this beautiful replacement for cigarettes that you have discovered, you may be putting yourself at the risk of suffering from long-term effects of consuming it.

• Mouth Ulcers: Consuming nicotine gum in the long run can lead to the development of mouth ulcers to the extent of oral cancer. Though the amount of nicotine in this gum is much lesser than in cigarettes, as mentioned earlier, it contributes to a significant amount in the long run.
• Gum Disease: Nicotine when consumed in large amounts has the ability to constrict the arteries and hamper blood flow to various body parts. When the blood supply reduces to the gums, it is likely to cause gum disease. Similarly, restricted blood supply to other body parts can result in muscle problems.
• Coronary Artery Disease: The development of coronary artery disease is accelerated by the consumption of nicotine by chewing nicotine gum in the long run. This is again because of nicotine constricting the arteries to significantly reduce blood supply to all body parts and back to the heart. This ability can also contribute to the development of hypertension.
• Effects during Pregnancy: It is absolutely unhealthy to consume any form of nicotine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. While smoking should be out of the question, even consuming nicotine gum can prove dangerous. Studies have shown that pregnant women who chewed it regularly, particularly during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, increased the chances of delivering babies with birth defects by almost 60%.

Esophageal reflux and weight gain are other long-term effects of consuming nicotine gum. The best way to withdraw completely from nicotine addiction is to slowly reduce the intake amount so that your body eases into life without this drug. It takes a lot of will power, but will definitely help you kick the habit and let you lead a healthy, disease-free life.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informational purposes only. Read the directions on the leaflet to understand how to exactly chew nicotine gum and look out for possible side effects as mentioned in the literature. Also inform your doctor or the pharmacist if you are allergic to absolutely anything before purchasing and using nicotine gum.