Smoking Cessation

By Medical Expert Team

May 10 , 2022 | 2 min read

Tobacco smoke is enormously harmful to your health. Smoking nearly harms every organ of the body. Smoking affects the lungs, heart, GI tract, Central nervous system, Kidneys, and Reproductive system. Smoking is the primary cause of Emphysema, Lung cancer, Chronic Bronchitis, and COPD. Smoking also makes the body more susceptible and defenceless against infectious respiratory diseases such as Tuberculosis, Aspergillosis, etc. Smoking also increases the risk of cataracts and poor eyesight. Smoking can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Why Quit Smoking?

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, out of which 70 are known carcinogens. Tobacco smoke is harmful to your body. Smoking nearly harms every organ of the body.

Also Checkout: Say No To Tobacco

Do not Wait

More than two-thirds of smokers say they want to quit, but few actually succeed, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The main cause of not being able to quit is nicotine. People who try to quit may feel anxious, irritated, and depressed and may develop insomnia and headaches due to withdrawal. Recent studies have shown that if we have strong determination and will, we can quit smoking easily.

How to quit smoking? Once and for all!

Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated intervention and multiple attempts to quit. Effective treatments exist, however, that can significantly increase rates of long-term abstinence.

Write down why you want to quit. Do you want to

Be around for your loved ones?
Have better health?
Set a good example for your children?
Protect your family from breathing other people's smoke?

Consult your Pulmonologist/Chest specialist for a customized plan of care

The following are easy steps to help you quit smoking.

Select a quit date: Choose a date within the next few days when you'll quit smoking.
Choosing a quit method: There are three ways to quit smoking. Choose the method or combination you think will work best for you.
1. "Cold turkey": Just stop smoking all at once on your Quit Day. This method doesn't prolong the quitting process.
2. Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day until you stop smoking completely. Smoke is only part of each cigarette.
Tackling withdrawal: There is nicotine (gums, sprays, patch, etc.) and non-nicotine replacement medicines that can help curb your withdrawal symptoms which will help you quit smoking. Medicines are most helpful when they're used correctly and combined with a behavior-modification program under the supervision of a chest specialist. The combination of counseling and medication is more effective than either alone. Thus, clinicians should encourage all individuals making a quit attempt to use both counseling and medication.