Posted on June 27, 2007 in Latest News
Mark Twain may have said “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times”. Quitting smoking is possible if you effectively control and manage the approach to quit smoking with adequate counseling. Many anti-smoking organizations like the National Cancer Institute urge smokers to quit for the damage it causes to the body and the environment.
Smoking Cessation:
Smoking cessation is medical lingo for quitting smoking. It is an important part of cancer prevention, as smoking is the single most preventable cause of death from cancer. Although most people associate smoking with lung cancer, it is also associated with cancers of the mouth, voice box, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and bladder. Women-smokers are at risk of cervical cancer. For these dangers that smoking poses to health, people are advised to quit smoking.
Ways to Quit Smoking:
Some approaches are medications, psychotherapy, special classes and programs. Smoking is hard habit to break as a person’s emotions, social life as well as physical addiction to nicotine are all inter-linked. To successfully quit smoking, a balanced combination of these techniques is required and it varies from one individual to other. So, it is advised to get guidance from your doctor.
How to Quit Smoking: Types of Treatment Available
- Nicotine replacement therapy gives the smoker a measured supply of nicotine without other harmful chemicals available in tobacco. This treatment helps to reduce physical craving for cigarettes. There are Transdermal patches, which are non-prescription items, to supply nicotine through the skin, with subsequent doses lowered over a period of weeks ensuring a gradual weaning away.
- Nicotine gum- is a fast-acting nicotine replacement treatment that is absorbed through the mouth tissues. The gum is chewed slowly by keeping against the cheek for about half an hour and doesn’t require a prescription.
- Nicotine nasal spray - gives nicotine via the nasal tissues and works faster than the patches or gum. But it requires a prescription from a doctor.
- Nicotine inhalers are plastic tubes containing nicotine plugs. It gives off nicotine vapor when the smoker puffs on the tube. These are preferable, as they are similar to cigarettes (but these too need a doctor’s prescription).
- Bupropion is antidepressant medication given to reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. This treatment helps people quit smoking and its success rate is greater when combined with nicotine replacement therapy. An anti-anxiety medication called Buspirone or BuSpar, is also known to be effective for nicotine withdrawal therapy.
- Group therapy and programs for smoking cessation help in reinforcing a smoker’s decision to give up tobacco through motivation lectures, talk sessions and group counseling. Educating smokers about common problems that can happen during quitting and offering emotional support are highly helpful.
- Alternative therapies like Acupuncture are also popular amongst those wanting to quit smoking. Other helpful complementary treatments include: movement therapies like yoga, T’ai chi and dance, and herbal remedies like tea and potions.
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July 9th, 2007 at 10:05 am
“Quit” programs and support groups goes a long way in fighting against smoking habit. Sometimes not only will power is required but one has to go through a series of psychological and pharmacological processes.