People adopt smoking habits due to many factors—and surprisingly, genetics is one of them. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Northern California discovered that genetic ancestry plays a role in one’s smoking initiation and can even influence the number of cigarettes people use daily. The researchers found that the association between people’s genetic ancestry and cigarette usage remains clear even after factors like one’s education, socioeconomic factors, and marital status are taken into account.
This association is concerning because a genetic predisposition to smoking may make it harder to quit. Here’s what you need to know about the effect of genes on cigarette usage.
The Link Between Genes and Cigarette Usage
Another study conducted by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine and other institutions also corroborates the idea that genetics play a role in influencing multiple smoking behaviors. The research showed that the ever-smoking PRS z-score is significantly associated with ever-smoking behavior, indicating that people can have a genetic risk of becoming cigarette smokers. Aside from that, smoking-related phenotypes are associated with an early age of smoking initiation. This early use of cigarettes could likely be influenced by the high risk of adopting smoking habits.
Unfortunately, the research study also showed that one’s genes can also affect the heaviness of their cigarette usage. The experts stated that these individuals are more likely to use more than 21 cigarettes per day, which can have profound impacts on their health. Thus, it’s not surprising that the researchers recommend earlier and more aggressive smoking cessation interventions for people with genetic risks for smoking. These interventions can help reduce the number of cigarettes that they use per day and also lower their likelihood of failing to quit smoking for good.
The Importance of Smoking Cessation Methods
Aggressive smoking cessation interventions are crucial for people with a genetic risk for smoking. However, quitting cold turkey can be ineffective for smokers because of strong withdrawal symptoms, like restlessness, lack of focus, sleep problems, and cigarette cravings. These withdrawal symptoms are even harder to resist when you have a genetic predisposition to smoking. Instead of quitting cold turkey, you can do nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) instead. This smoking cessation method allows you to manage your withdrawal symptoms using products with controlled nicotine strengths as you transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Unfortunately, not all cessation methods are healthy or recommended. For example, some smokers use vapes as a tool to help them adjust to a tobacco-free lifestyle. Though these vapes don’t contain tobacco, our article entitled ‘Vaping Doesn’t Differ From Smoking’ highlights that e-cigarettes can still cause the same epigenetic effects that regular cigarettes have on your body. Vaping can still cause biologically relevant chemical changes in your body, which is why it’s not suitable for NRT purposes.
Instead, you can use nicotine pouches for NRT. Smokers who like menthol cigarettes can switch to using the ZYN Wintergreen nicotine pouches that are on Prilla, which offer refreshing notes of menthol and hints of sweetness. These nicotine pouches are manufactured exclusively for the American market, which is why they can be useful in managing withdrawal symptoms and making quitting sustainable. Aside from using nicotine pouches, you can also try nicotine lozenges for NRT. The Nic Nac fruit-flavored nicotine lozenges undergo a strict manufacturing process to ensure that the product contains all-natural ingredients and lab-grade nicotine. You can also enjoy the natural flavors of blood orange and grapefruit as you use the nicotine lozenges to control your cigarette cravings and other symptoms.
It’s important to break the chain of cigarette smoking in your family. Through the right smoking cessation methods, it can be easier to overcome your genetic predisposition to smoking and protect the health of your loved ones.
