Smoking Treatment

Recently Answered

• QDoes quitting smoking lower the risk of cancer?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  Quitting smoking substantially reduces the risk of developing and dying from cancer, and this benefit increases the longer a person remains smoke free. However, even after many years of not smoking, the risk of lung cancer in former smokers remains higher than in people who have never smoked.
  The risk of premature death and the chance of developing cancer due to cigarettes depend on the number of years of smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the age at which smoking began, and the presence or absence of illness at the time of quitting. For people who have already developed cancer, quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing a second cancer.
  This answer is based on source information from the U.S National Institutes of Health.  
• QHow can I get support from others when I quit smoking?

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  A Dr. Joseph I. Miller, MD , Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular), answered on behalf of Piedmont Heart Institute

  By joining a support group, talking with friends or family members.

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• QHow do support groups help me quit smoking?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Support groups help you quit smoking by helping you overcome the cravings that will inevitably come.  You will have cravings, especially on days 3 to 5 of quitting, that will get less the longer you stay away from cigarettes.  In fact, the cravings, we are told, go away almost entirely by 6 months.  That is, you do not have any cravings at any time.  Key is to use your support group anytime you feel like you have got a craving.  Call them up and talk through it.

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• QDo nicotine replacement products help cigar smokers to quit?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  Yes. Nicotine replacement products deliver measured doses of nicotine into the body, which helps to relieve the cravings and withdrawal symptoms often felt by people trying to quit smoking. Strong and consistent evidence shows that nicotine replacement products can help people quit smoking.
  This answer is based on source information from the U.S National Institutes of Health.  
• QHow do I get my loved one to go to a smoking cessation support group?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Entice them with sex or something else, or just tell them you love them and you are asking them to go to a smoking cessation group because you love them.

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• QHow do I rearrange my bedroom to avoid slip-ups when quitting smoking?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  If you used to smoke in your bedroom, you can avoid slips ups when quitting smoking by rearranging the room. Start by getting rid of the smoky smell with a deodorizer, and toss the ashtrays and lighters. Also dry clean or replace curtains and your comforter or bedspread, and spruce up the room with new accent pillows. Scented candles and soft lighting can also turn your bedroom into a relaxing environment you can de-stress in instead of reaching for a cigarette.

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• QCan I get help by telephone or over the Internet to quit smoking?

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  A SCAI answered

  If you want help with quitting smoking but are not easily able to get to an office for in-person or group counseling, telephone or online counseling may fit your needs. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you seek counseling in person, or via telephone or computer-based programs; all seem to be more helpful than trying to quit smoking on your own. Repeated visits, calls, or chats with a trained counselor (usually a nurse or a therapist) increase long-term smoking cessation rates.
  Telephone counseling that provides calls to the smoker initiated by the counselor according to a pre-arranged schedule is the most effective type of telephone counseling. Any smoker in the United States can call 1-800-QUITNOW for free proactive telephone counseling. 
  Online counseling is another way you can seek quitting help within the privacy and comfort of your own home. The American Lung Association offers a free smoking cessation program.
• QWhy is it hard to quit smoking?

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  A Dr. Vincent T DeVita Jr , Oncology, answered

  Nicotine is probably the most addictng substance known to mankind even more than cocaine. Once you get hooked on it it is very difficult to stop. That's why various nicotine based products are usefull .They give you a low dose of nicotine without exposure to all the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke  and let you gradually withdraw from the addiction.

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• QHow will quitting smoking improve my health?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Quitting tobacco is important for your health. For example, the tobacco in cigarettes contains over 4,000 chemicals, more than 100 of which are known toxins (poisons). But it’s never too late to stop the damage tobacco does to your body. For example, look what happens when you put out your last cigarette:
  
  • within minutes, your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal
  
  • within hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood will go down -- and the oxygen level will go up
  
  • within days, your ability to smell and taste will improve, and the yellow stains on your hands and teeth will fade
  
  • within several weeks to months, you’ll start to breathe easier - your smoker’s cough will disappear, and you’ll find that you’re more clear-headed and energetic
  
  • within a year or two, your risk for heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and lung cancer will drop by up to 50% -- eventually, your risk for these diseases will be the same as if you had never smoked

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• QWhat should I do in the morning to avoid smoking while quitting?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Smoking is often associated with doing other things, like drinking a cup of coffee. One way to avoid the urge for a cigarette in the morning is to change your routine a bit. If you always have a cigarette with your morning coffee in the kitchen, for instance, try having a cup of tea in the living room instead.

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