Several years ago University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine scientists carried out a research among cigarette smokers. The participants had to wear opaque glasses and nose clips. When smoking all the women who took part in the research admitted their cigarettes gave less satisfaction. In other research, women smokers who tried both low-nicotine and full-flavor cigarettes mentioned less of a difference in satisfaction than men did.
These findings, as well as many other researches, showed that there is difference in the attitude to smoking based on gender. The study reports that men light up in order to get nicotine, whereas women are more likely to smoke in order to control weight, look cool and enhance mood.
Though there is no evidence why the reasons for smoking among female and male smokers differ, scientists admit taking into consideration these differences could make cessation strategy even more effective.
According to statistics, after taking nicotine replacement therapies (such as nicotine gum, sprays and patches) during several months, women are three times more likely to return to smoking than men, though rates of successful quitting are almost the same for those men and women who were taking prescription drugs, like Chantix.
At the same time, gender-based differences in addiction to smoking could as well constitute a curios exception to the nicotine-replacement therapies use: efficacy of nicotine inhaler, a small device delivering nicotine varies according to gender. The 2003 research of 500 smokers showed that inhalers were more efficient for female smokers, whereas men were more likely to give up smoking using patches, sprays and gums.
Women part not only with nicotine, but also with the sensory signals when they gave up smoking, said Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington, a research coordinator at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. So, substitution of these signals by using the inhaler and learning methods to overcome those signals could help more women give up smoking.
The majority of female smokers participating in various researches admit that weight gain is one of the primary causes of keeping smoking. It is not a major discovery; however this study concludes that cognitive behavioral therapy could be particularly effective for women willing to give up since it might help overcome psychological barrier and accept the fact they could gain some pounds after they give up smoking. A 2005 survey of 220 women who gave up smoking discovered that after 12 months those who were prescribed cognitive behavioral therapy managed to quit at higher rates than those who were enrolled at a weight-control program.
According to some scientists, women should also combine CBT with the calendars of menstruation. Researches suggest menstruation provides a major impact on nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Thiago Gonzalez, professor of psychology at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine said the studies concluded that women should not aggravate withdrawal syndrome and moodiness by attempting to give up smoking during the premenstrual syndrome, but better wait till the end of the period to quit smoking.