|  | Public Health Safety | Smoking

Alternatives to Unfiltered Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer, respiratory problems and myriad other diseases and health problems. According to WebMD, nearly 1/3 of all people over 18 smoke cigarettes. If you smoke unfiltered cigarettes, especially, you are exposed to even higher rates of tar and other carcinogens than people smoking filtered cigarettes---although the difference is sometimes negligible. There are several alternatives to unfiltered cigarettes that will reduce your risk of lung cancer, emphysema and other respiratory problems.

  1. Nicotine Supplements

    • If you don't want to give up nicotine but want to give up cigarettes, there are several nicotine supplements that will feed your addiction and give you a buzz without causing serious health problems. Nicotine gum, lozenges, inhalers and patches can give you a spontaneous or continuous nicotine source for your addiction or for weaning yourself off smoking.

    Electronic Cigarettes

    • Electronic cigarettes have recently become popular. These "e-cigarettes" deliver nicotine through water vapor without emitting smoke or burning tobacco. They work by heating up liquid flavoring and nicotine until it vaporizes. You then inhale the vapor and get the taste of a cigarette and a nicotine buzz without the harmful effects of tar. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, electronic cigarettes have not been proven completely safe because they contain unhealthy chemicals and may increase nicotine addiction.

    Smokeless Tobacco

    • If you still want to use tobacco but want to stop smoking unfiltered cigarettes, try smokeless tobacco. You can use smokeless tobacco in places where smoking isn't allowed. Also, your house, clothes and breath won't smell like ashtrays full of cigarette butts. Smokeless tobacco comes in the form of chewing tobacco, snus and snuff. These forms of tobacco can cause mouth, gum and tongue cancer, in addition to other health problems, but they are less fatal than unfiltered cigarettes.

    Quit Smoking

    • Quitting smoking is the best alternative to smoking unfiltered cigarettes. Even if you've smoked for years, you can quit now and start feeling better immediately. While nicotine is horribly addictive, it's not impossible to break the habit. You can quit cold turkey, use quit smoking programs or products or talk to your doctor about prescription drugs to help you quit smoking. Acupuncture, hypnosis, therapy and nicotine vaccinations are also options.

Smoking - Related Articles