Healthier Future Begins When You Quit Tobacco Use - Deb Murray, Respiratory Care Practitioner And Tobacco Cessation Coach

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma;  Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  COPD
Article Date: 07 Nov 2008 - 4:00 PST

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It's common knowledge that smoking is bad for you. But really, how bad is it?

Tobacco is responsible for more than 430,000 deaths each year - about 50 deaths per hour. Tobacco use increases risk of high blood pressure and blood clots, which can lead to stroke or heart attack. Tobacco use and smoking increases the workload on the heart, contributing to heart disease - the No. 1 killer of Americans. It can contribute to peripheral artery disease, or blockages in the arteries and stomach ulcers. Smoking leads to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema. Smoking is blamed in 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men, and 80 percent in women. Each year, some 213,000 people die of lung cancer - 115,000 of which are men.

Other effects aren't deadly, but they impact your quality of life. For example, male smokers have a 60 percent higher chance of experiencing erectile dysfunction. Tobacco use can cause gum disease, premature aging i.e. wrinkles and discoloration of the teeth, skin and even hair. Nicotine depletes Vitamin C in your body, making you more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.

Why do people keep smoking or using tobacco even though they know it's bad for them?

Nicotine is very addictive. As soon as the chemical hits the bloodstream, it goes to the brain within 7 seconds, releasing adrenaline and dopamine which create feelings of excitement and pleasure. It only takes five to seven days to get nicotine out of the system, but it's also hard to break that habit of always having a cigarette with a cup of coffee, on a break or after a meal.

Would it help to switch from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco, or change the type of cigarettes I smoke?

Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. In fact, it has more nicotine than cigarettes, can be more addictive, and greatly increases your risk of oral cancer. There is no safe way to smoke, no safe amount to smoke and no safe cigarette.

What works when it comes to quitting?

Some 70 percent of smokers want to quit, but when they try it on their own, their success rate is only about 7 percent. Studies show that adding a couple of resources to your quit plan, such as counseling, nicotine replacements or other medications, can increase that success rate significantly. Accountability is also important.

How do nicotine replacement products work?

Over-the-counter products include nicotine gum or lozenges, and patches. These products release nicotine into your body, through the tissue in the mouth or skin. There are also nicotine nasal sprays and inhalers available by prescription. You start using these products instead of tobacco, decreasing the strength with time. Antidepressant medications like Zyban or Wellbutrin can help reduce cravings. There is also a new cessation medication, Chantix, which blocks nicotine receptors in the brain, so you may not want a cigarette at all, or if you do, the pleasurable effects are gone.

Can I use nicotine replacement products long term?

Nicotine replacement products are tools for quitting - they are not intended for continued use. While certainly less harmful than cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, these products still carry the harmful effects of nicotine, which include increased heart and breathing rate and damage to blood vessels. If you are still using them after six to 12 weeks, you need to re-evaluate your quit plan.

Will I experience withdrawal symptoms when quitting?

While the patches or gum will lessen symptoms, most quitters will experience one or more withdrawal symptoms, such as dry mouth, cough, dull headache, irritability or restless sleep.

I've been a smoker for years - can I still help my health by quitting?

No matter how much, how often or how long you've smoked, the day you quit, it starts having a positive effect on your body.

Where can I go for help?

You can reach the Avera Heart Hospital's Quit for Good program at (605) 977-7000. Other great resources include South Dakota's Quit Line at 1-866-737-8487, the American Lung Association at http://www.lungusa.org, the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org or the American Heart Association at http://www.americanheart.org.

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

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