How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
The length of time nicotine stays in the body depends on how much is used, and whether that use is on a consistent daily basis or just socially. The three major forms of nicotine usage are:
- Chewing tobacco
- Smoking cigarettes
- Nicotine replacement therapy (for those who are trying to quit)
The 3 levels of nicotine usage
It takes 20 days or so for nicotine to get out of a person's blood system. However the level of usage has a lot to do with it. Below are levels defined:
Light Usage: For a person who only uses tobacco at particular social events or once in awhile situations, nicotine will only be detectable for two or three days. A longer time between use and testing will show a lesser amount of nicotine in the person's system.
Medium Usage: People who only use nicotine on an irregular basis, perhaps once or twice a week.
Heavy User: Many who use the drug do so on a daily basis. These are generally smokers who suffer from an addiction to cigarettes and therefore indulge at regular intervals every day. The same can be said for those who chew tobacco. It's much more concentrated in the person's system, and can cause serious withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop smoking. These people can have the drug in their system for up to ten or more days after the last use.
How to ride the body of nicotine
There are ways in which a person can get nicotine out of their system quicker. Below are a few of the more popular methods:
Flushing it out: By consuming a large amount of water and other healthy beverages, a person is able to get toxins out of their system in a much more efficient way. This is true of just about any type of toxin, not just nicotine.
Taking your vitamins: Vitamin C is a known antioxidant. It actually works against the drug by metabolizing it. Not only is a person getting the drug out of their system quicker, but also helping themselves get their bodies healthier in the process.
Exercise: Rigorous exercise will help the body metabolize and process all toxins, including nicotine. This is also a good way to help deal with any cravings you may have.
The best way to keep nicotine out of your system is to stop smoking as soon as possible. Nicorette gum and the patch are 2 treatments that have helped millions quit for good. For more information please visit our Nicotine Patch and Nicotine Gum pages today. We're a website that's dedicated to helping people stop smoking.