Nicotine gum: Is it safe?

From pills to hypnosis to patches and even gum, there are many ways to quit smoking. But is there a downside to these common treatments?

Dr. Manny Alvarez, FOX News Channel's Senior Managing Editor for Health News, answers the question of a concerned viewer about the long-term effects of nicotine gum.

There's no doubt about it that chewing nicotine gum is better than smoking cigarettes. But it still contains small amounts of nicotine - which is what helps reduce withdrawal symptoms in people when they quit smoking.

According to the American Lung Association, people should not chew more than 24 pieces of nicotine gum a day and they shouldn't use it for more than three months.

Long-term use of nicotine gum has been linked with certain health problems like:

Hair loss;

Skin irritation;

Elevated blood pressure;

Irregular heartbeat;

Insulin resistance;

And gastrointestinal issues.

You should talk to your doctor about what you can do to get off the gum if you're having trouble.