![]() Quitting smoking. INTRODUCTIONCigarette smoking is a major cause of disease in the United States. More than 4. 00,0. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 4. Smoking is a major cause of non- fatal diseases including osteoporosis, skin wrinkling, peptic ulcer disease, impotence, and pregnancy complications. Quitting and staying away from cigarettes is difficult, but not impossible. This topic review discusses the benefits of stopping smoking, treatments that can aid in the process of quitting, and the difficulties of relapse for those who try to quit. BENEFITS OF QUITTING SMOKINGQuitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. The earlier you quit, the greater the benefits. Today is a Great Day to Quit. You’ve decided to quit smoking. Congratulations! Your first day without cigarettes can be difficult. You’re not alone. Learn how to quit smoking. Smoking is an addictive disease, read about the steps to quit smoking including medication and behavior modification. Smoking makes you feel good in the short term, but can immensely damage your health in the long run. Read on to learn about the harmful side effects of smoking. Smoking causes progressive harm to your musculoskeletal system and bone mineral density Men who smoke have a 25 percent increased risk of any fracture and a 40. Set a date for quitting. If possible, plan to have a friend quit smoking with you. It's best to pick a day within the next month. A date too far off in the future.![]() ![]() People who quit smoking before age 5. Quitting smoking is also important to those who do not smoke, since being exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke is responsible for a number of serious health conditions. Cardiovascular disease — Cigarette smoking doubles the risk of developing coronary heart disease, and quitting smoking can rapidly reduce this risk. One year after stopping smoking, the risk of dying from coronary heart disease is reduced by about one- half and continues to decline over time. In some studies, the risk of heart attack was reduced to the rate of nonsmokers within two years of quitting smoking. Pulmonary disease — Smoking increases the risk of long- term lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While much of the lung damage caused by smoking is not reversible, stopping smoking can reduce further damage to the lungs, and many smokers with a chronic cough and sputum (phlegm coughed up from the lungs) note an improvement in these symptoms during the first year after stopping smoking. Cigarette smoking makes it more difficult to treat asthma. Cancer — Cigarette smoking is responsible for almost 9. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer within five years of stopping, although former smokers still have a higher risk of lung cancer than people who have never smoked. Stopping smoking is beneficial even after one of these cancers is diagnosed, since it reduces the risk of getting a second cancer and may improve the chance of survival from the first cancer. Peptic ulcer disease — Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing peptic ulcer disease. Quitting smoking decreases that risk and increases the rate of ulcer healing, if ulcers have developed. Stopping smoking begins to reverse this risk after about 1. Increased bone loss has also been noted in male smokers, although it is not clear how much a man's risk of fracture is increased by smoking. As an example, pregnant women who smoke have an increased risk of birth defects and of having an underweight baby. Smoking causes premature skin wrinkling and increases the risk of sexual problems (eg, impotence). ![]() ![]() The American Heart Association states that smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Learn how to quit smoking, the. It is not uncommon for smokers to suffer weight gain after quitting smoking. The cause is straight forward and there are ways to better manage weight gain. Understanding why you feel depression after quitting smoking and what you can do about it will help you manage smoking cessation more easily. Stopping smoking probably reduces the risk of these conditions. RISKS OF QUITTING SMOKINGGenerally, any risks of quitting smoking are far outweighed by the benefits. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to prepare for the discomforts of stopping smoking. ![]() Symptoms generally peak in the first three days and decrease over the next three to four weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can include difficulty sleeping, irritability, frustration or anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and restlessness. Episodic cravings for cigarettes, which can be intense, may persist for many months. Cravings may be brought on by situations associated with smoking, by stress, or by drinking alcohol. ![]() These cravings are a common time for ex- smokers to relapse. The cravings will go away if ignored. Symptoms of sleeplessness, irritability, sadness, difficulty concentrating, or other signs of depression should be discussed with a health care provider. Typically, people gain two to five pounds in the first two weeks, followed by an additional four to seven pounds over the next four to five months. The average weight gain is 8 to 1. An exercise program and eating a reasonable diet can minimize weight gain. The benefits of quitting smoking are much greater than the risk of gaining weight. Smokers, however, can differ markedly in the way in which they smoke. A few may not be addicted to smoking, although it is estimated that 8. United States are addicted. Even among those who are addicted, there may be marked differences in success in quitting, symptoms that occur when you try to quit, and factors that may lead to relapse. Discuss any prior attempts to quit with a health care provider to improve your chances of successfully quitting. After deciding to quit smoking, the first step is usually to set a quit date. This is the day when you will completely quit smoking. Ideally, this date should be in the next two weeks, although choosing a special date (eg, birthday, anniversary, or holiday) is another option. Some people switch to a brand of cigarettes that is lower in tar and nicotine before quitting, but this frequently causes the person to inhale more often or more deeply; low tar and low nicotine cigarettes have no known benefits and are not recommended. Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked prior to the quit date is recommended by some as a means of preparation. Other steps that may help in preparing to quit include the following. What worked? What did not work? What contributed to relapse? Recalling previous quit attempts may help anticipate these symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms usually become manageable within a few weeks of stopping completely. Examples include having smokers in the household or workplace, stressful situations, and drinking alcohol. A vacation from work may be an easier time to quit, particularly if you smoke during work breaks. Changing behaviors and taking a medication are the two main methods of quitting smoking. You are more likely to quit if you use both methods together. BEHAVIORAL CHANGES TO HELP YOU QUITYou can make changes in your behavior to help you quit smoking on your own or you can participate in individual or group sessions. Using behavioral changes with a medication increases your chances of success. After identifying these situations, you may need to develop new coping skills. This may include one or more of the following. Vigorous exercise can enhance the ability to stop smoking and avoid relapse and also helps to minimize or avoid weight gain. People who live with smokers can consider negotiating with them to stop smoking at home or in the car. Cravings can be prevented to some degree by avoiding situations associated with smoking, by minimizing stress, and by avoiding alcohol. Cravings will subside. Keep oral substitutes (such as sugarless gum, carrots, sunflower seeds, etc) handy for when cravings develop. Self- help materials such as pamphlets, booklets, videos, or audio tapes; information from a health care provider; a counselor; a telephone hotline; the internet; and support groups can be helpful. Some medical centers have patient resources or learning centers with self- help materials. Support can come from family and friends, a health care provider, a counselor, a telephone hotline (in the United States, 1- 8. QUIT- NOW), or support groups. In addition to getting encouragement, it is important to have someone to discuss any problems that develop while trying to quit, such as depression, weight gain, lack of support from family and friends, or prolonged withdrawal symptoms. Group counseling — Group programs are offered by a number of organizations. They typically include lectures, group meeting, a tapering method leading to a . The cost can vary from nothing to several hundred dollars. Hypnosis and acupuncture — Hypnosis and acupuncture are popular stop- smoking methods. Although scientific support for these two methods is weak, some people who have failed with other techniques feel these treatments were helpful. MEDICATIONS FOR QUITTINGThere are several medications that may help you stop smoking; in the United States, some of these are available without a prescription while others require a prescription. One of the most effective treatments is varenicline (brand name: Chantix), a prescription medication. Other options include nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion (brand names: Zyban, Wellbutrin). Any of these medications can have side effects. Nicotine replacement therapy — Without nicotine, most people develop withdrawal symptoms. These include depression, difficulty falling or staying asleep, irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and nicotine craving. Nicotine replacement therapy is designed to reduce the intensity of these symptoms but will not prevent symptoms completely. Many smokers are able to quit without using nicotine replacement therapy, although nicotine is available to virtually anyone who desires it. Nicotine is available in several forms: as a gum or lozenge, patch, nasal spray, or inhaler. None of these forms is significantly superior to another, and all appear similarly effective . However, individual smokers may find one form particularly effective. Combinations of these therapies (usually a patch plus gum, lozenges, nasal spray, or inhaler) are more effective than use of one form alone. Use of these combinations should be supervised by a knowledgeable health care provider. Examples of combination treatment include a nicotine patch, which may be worn to provide a constant low level of nicotine, and nicotine gum, which may be used as needed for cigarette cravings. Nicotine replacement therapy appears to be safe, even in people with known heart disease. Skin patches — Nicotine patches deliver nicotine to the blood through a skin patch. Several doses are available. The highest dose patch (2. Withdrawal symptoms are reduced in intensity, but not eliminated. The combination of an intensive behavioral program and nicotine patches can double your chances of quitting. Treatment with nicotine patches is generally recommended at . Some brands of patches include a tapering period of several additional weeks.
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