Is chewing nicotine gum bad for your health?
What about nicotine gums or patches to help people stop smoking? Although these products are available without a prescription, be sure to discuss their use with your health care professional ifyou have any symptoms of or risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Nicotine gum contains about 2 milligrams of nicotine per piece. It is recommended that you chew an average of ten or twelve pieces per day, reducing the number over a period of several months. People with certain heart disorders, ulcers, or throat and mouth problems should not use the gum, so check with your health care professional first. Some people prefer the gum to the nicotine patch because the dose is individually controllable and gives them something to carry around and manipulate. Overuse of the nicotine gum can be a temptation, however, and some people may suffer side effects burning in the mouth or throat, nausea, and vomiting. The nicotine patch releases nicotine through the skin and into the bloodstream...