Why Women Have a Harder Time Kicking the Smoking Habit

Articles on Smoking | Topics: smoking, smokers

by Dionne Trevino

Many of those who smoke have the desire to quit smoking and break the habit that they have formed. However, it has been found that women have a harder time kicking the smoking habit than men do. While it has been found that smoking causes more health problems in women than in men, it has also been seen that smoking is harder to break with women. This happens because of the different effects that the nicotine have on the brain. This also happens because of the associations that women make with smoking, which often times differ from the reasons why men smoke.

One of the reasons why women have a harder time to stop smoking is because of the nicotine addiction that occurs with cigarette smoking. Cigarettes contain this chemical in order to get one addicted to smoking. The nicotine moves into one's brain and triggers a nerve that is responsible for calming pain. When a woman decides to stop smoking this nerve is no longer triggered. In women, this causes a feeling of depression and negative moods making it harder for women to quit smoking. This nerve is more sensitive in women than it is in men. It has been found that the withdrawal symptoms are harder to maintain when a woman is trying to quit smoking because of these sudden changes in moods that have been triggered and suppressed from the change in the brain's nerves.

One of the effects that smoking has on the brain is being an emotional stimulus. This is more associated with women having the need to smoke than men. Because of the nicotine that is moving into the nerves of your brain, it causes you to believe that there is a lower stress level when smoking. Things such as stress levels seem to go up. Women may also begin feeling things more strongly when they quit smoking, such as anxiety and depression. The mood changes that occur from smoking are known to effect women more than they do men.

One of the nerves in the brain that triggers from the nicotine is related to finding a pleasure in the smell and taste of cigarette smoke. This nerve has been found to be more sensitive in women than in men. Because of this, the physical habit of smoking and sensations associated with smoking are harder to break. The desire for the physical addiction from smoking in women causes higher rates of withdrawal symptoms and anxiety. Because of this, it has been found that the nicotine replacement remedies, such as gum and patches are not as effective in women as they are in men.

Quote of the Day

As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake.

—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)

Smoking is often associated with environmental surroundings, such as the place where one usually smokes. This also includes the social aspect of smoking, such as meeting with friends who all have the same addiction. Because women associate smoking with the physical at a higher level, they have to take themselves out of certain social circles and environments in order to help them move through the withdrawal symptoms.

When someone decides to stop smoking, there are several bodily functions that begin to change. This includes things in association to blood flow, tissue and nerve re-growth, and a loss of toxins and chemicals from cigarettes. At the same time, it may cause weight gain because of the changes that the body begins to go through. For several years, smoking has been advertised as allowing women to help maintain their weight. When women associate quitting their smoking habit with weight gain, it becomes harder to be convinced that they should quit smoking.

If a woman decides to quit smoking, it creates a different effect when going through the withdrawal symptoms. The brain nerves that are affected from a woman smoking have shown to be different than how they effect a man's reaction. This causes more severe withdrawal problems as well as feelings of anxiety and depression which are associated with smoking. Often times, these mood changes and physical changes cause more relapses from women than they do men. Despite this, there is also several health factors related to smoking. These affect women in more areas as well, making it important for a woman to kick the smoking habit.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Why Women Have a Harder Time Kicking the Smoking Habit" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by HealthExerciseSports.com.

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