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Tobacco is widely consumed around the world in the form of cigarettes or cigars, since the time of the discovery of the Americas. It contains a well-known alkaloid – nicotine, which has stimulant properties and causes addiction, which is why it is so difficult to quit smoking.
Tobacco mainly has harmful effects, such as:
– breathing disorders and cancer (eg lung cancer )
– cardiovascular disorders
– drug interactions (antidiabetics, contraceptives, neuroleptics, antidepressants)
There are numerous methods to stop smoking. We can highlight nicotine replacement (patches, chewing gum, pills to suck, inhaler, pills to ingest). All these methods are of great help, but it is important, first of all, that the person creates awareness and has a strong desire to stop smoking.
A study published in January 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that people who smoke throughout their lives lose, on average, about ten years of their lives, compared to those who never smoked. This research was carried out by Dr. Prabhat Jha of St. Michael of the University of Toronto.
Smoking lowers life expectancy by an average of 8 years, according to a Belgian study published in August 2014.
Why Quit Smoking?
– After 20 minutes: heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure are normalized.
– After 2 hours: nicotine stops circulating in the body.
– After 8 hours: there is more oxygen and less carbon monoxide in the blood.
– After 24 hours: the risk of heart attack already starts to decrease.
– After 48 hours: breathing improves.
– After a few weeks: breathing, taste and smell improve (better sensations).
– After a few months: decreased risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia .
– After 2 to 12 weeks: Lung capacity increases by 30% and blood circulation improves
– After 1 to 9 months: cough and fatigue subside.
– After one year: 50% reduction in having a heart attack (heart attack) .
– After 10 to 15 years: the probability of developing lung cancer is the same as a non-smoker.
This forecast is perhaps a little too optimistic. In fact, the American reference institution US Surgeon General , linked to the US government, believes that a person who quits smoking and abstains from smoking for 10 years can reduce his risk of developing lung cancer by 50%.
– After 15 years: the same probability of having a heart attack as a non-smoker.
– After 10 to 15 years, life expectancy is the same as that of a person who has never smoked.
Number of people who smoke
Smoking is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an epidemic!
Nearly a billion people actively smoke. 20% are from rich countries. The vast majority of smokers are from poor countries.
There are more male smokers, however this number tends to decrease and the proportion of female smokers tends to increase.
Number of people who smoke by country
– In France, 32% of the population smokes (source: France 5, February 2014).
– In Australia, 16% of the population smokes (source: France 5, February 2014).
– In the United States, in 2013, 19% of the population over 18 smoked (source: CDC).
In the United States, the consequences of smoking lead to more than 480,000 deaths per year, according to a press release from the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) issued in July 2017. The FDA also reports that nearly 90% of smokers adults started smoking before age 18 and that every day about 2,500 young people smoke their first cigarette in the United States.
It is estimated that around 35 million Americans try to quit smoking each year.
– In Brazil, according to a study published in May 2015 by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, 10.8% of Brazilians were smokers in 2014. Which represents a drop of 30.7% compared to 2006. Men continue to smoke. smoke more than women. In 2014, 12.8% of men were smokers against 9% of women. In 1989, the number of smokers was 35.4%.
Comment
Brazil is one of the countries in the world that has reduced its consumption of tobacco the most in recent years, the main reasons for this drop are, in order of importance: the increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, laws that prohibit smoking in closed public places , anti-smoking campaigns in the media, and restrictions on tobacco advertising.
It is also considered that half of all smokers will die from tobacco-related complications. There are over 4000 harmful chemicals in a cigarette!
According to WHO data, more than 6 million people die because of smoking. Among these people, there are current smokers and former smokers. And dramatically, it is also necessary to mention that passive smokers also die from tobacco complications. Thus, this last category represents one tenth of the people killed by tobacco (about 600,000 people, according to WHO data).
Remember that for an ex-smoker it takes 15 years for your risk of developing lung cancer to become similar to that of a non-smoker.
smoking causes
– Smoking is not a disease in itself, but it causes many side effects due to increased tobacco consumption. Cigarettes contain, in addition to nicotine, more than 4,000 harmful chemicals.
Smoking is an effect of society. Different factors can lead a person to smoke. First, their direct environment (if they smoke): parents to begin with, followed by friends during adolescence when they are forbidden to experiment. After that, companions assume this role.
These environments do not help the person who wants to quit smoking. Thus, if the partner also smokes, it is preferable for the couple to decide together to stop smoking.
Stressful situations can lead a person to smoke (this is especially the case for ex-smokers). Inhaled nicotine quickly reaches the brain and, as a neurotransmitter, induces well-being.
Quitting smoking is depriving them of this well-being and exposing them to “side effects” of quitting smoking, such as irritability, anxiety, headaches.
Nicotine also increases metabolism, so quitting often leads to weight gain. It is also an important cause of not wanting to quit smoking.
Symptoms
The intensity of withdrawal symptoms is manifested according to the degree of nicotine dependence. Many smokers are often hesitant to quit for fear of these symptoms. The most frequent symptoms are the following:
– nervousness, irritability ( stress )
– anxiety
– sleep disorders ( insomnia …)
– headache
– lack of concentration
– fatigue
– increased appetite and weight gain, we know that when smokers stop smoking permanently, 80% gain an average of 7 kilos, according to several studies. This weight gain is not related to a high-calorie diet to compensate for abstinence, but to a change in the composition of the intestinal flora, according to Swiss researchers who published a study in August 2013.
– vertigo
These effects occur due to the lack of nicotine in the body and can be mitigated through its substitutes.
Smoking immediately after waking up is even more dangerous
A US study published in August 2011 showed that people who smoke a cigarette 30 minutes after waking up have a 79% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who wait at least an hour before smoking their first cigarette. cigarette of the day. This study was carried out with 4,775 people who suffered from cancer and 2,835 who did not suffer from this disease, all of them smokers.
It is interesting to note that “making smoke” is part of a ceremony that can be difficult to let go of. The act of smoking also comes into play, sometimes linked to certain times of the day (after meals, for example). A large market has developed in this context, that of electronic cigarettes that can also contain nicotine or not (eg in Switzerland it is illegal to sell electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine, but in France it is legal).
Groups of risk
In developed countries, the number of smokers seems to decrease. However, in poor countries, the opposite is true. Thus, global tobacco consumption increases.
Nicotine is definitely toxic regardless of the route of administration by inhalation, ingestion and even contact. As in developing countries, where poor families send their children to work in tobacco fields, they end up suffering from green tobacco disease.
So there is a logical conclusion. Smoking kills, even if slowly. Tobacco kills smokers and passive smokers. It is expensive for society, both in terms of care, but it also deprives the family of extra income.
People most at risk are listed below.
– Women taking oral contraceptives (increased risk of thrombosis)
– Diabetics (reduced effect of insulin due to nicotine)
– Hypertensive and people with heart disease (increased cardiovascular risk)
– Pregnant women (risk for the baby: low birth weight, increased risk of respiratory disorders)
– People with respiratory disorders (smoker’s cough, asthma, dyspnoea)
– People who live with smokers
– People who work with smokers
Complications
Smoking is now recognized as harmful for both the smoker and passive smokers.
Complications of smoking are:
– Yellowing of teeth
– Development of bad breath
– Tobacco hinders the healing process after an injury
– Cardiovascular risks (heart attack, etc.)
– Increased risk of thrombosis in women taking the contraceptive pill
– In pregnant women who smoke, there is also a risk for the baby: retarded fetal growth, respiratory diseases such as asthma. It appears that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death by 3 to 4 times.
– Respiratory diseases (bronchitis, emphysema)
– It seems that the chemicals in cigarettes impair sexual intercourse. The blood vessels in the penis become filled with blood during arousal and ensure an erection. The latter can be prevented if the vessels are clogged.
– Smoking decreases the chances of reproduction
– The development of various types of cancer: lung, larynx, throat, pancreas, kidneys (urine becomes acidic and can cause kidney cancer).
– Premature deaths among smokers and passive smokers. It appears that the life expectancy of smokers is reduced by a decade compared to the non-smoking population.
Diagnosis
We do not exactly speak of diagnosis since it is not a disease, but we can identify a person’s degree of dependence on nicotine. That same dependence will determine the appropriate treatment that can help the person to stop smoking. See section: treat smoking
The Fagerström test is often used to determine the degree of nicotine dependence.
Questions | Answers | Spots |
1. How long after waking up do you smoke your first cigarette? | In less than 5 minutes Between 6 to 30 minutes Between 31 to 60 minutes after 60 minutes | 3 2 1 0 |
2. Do you find it difficult not to smoke in places where it is prohibited? (eg cinema, libraries…)? | Sim No | 1 0 |
3. Which cigarette is the most indispensable? | The first Others | 1 0 |
4. On average, how many cigarettes do you smoke per day? | 10 or less from 11 to 20 from 21 to 30 31 or more | 0 1 2 3 |
5. Do you smoke more often in the morning? | Sim No | 1 0 |
6. Do you smoke even when you are sick and have to stay in bed? | Sim No | 1 0 |
Your result: Score between 0 – 2 : not dependent or very low degree of dependence Score between 3 – 4: low degree of dependency Score between 5 – 6: medium degree of dependency Score between 7 – 8: high degree of dependency Score between 9 – 10: very high degree of dependency |
Treatments
There are different alternatives that can be used to stop smoking.
But it is important to point out that for the result to be positive, the first condition is the smoker’s willpower to become an ex-smoker.
In self-medication, nicotine substitutes in the form of chewing gum, sublingual tablets, sucking tablets or patches can be used.
First of all, it is necessary to determine the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the habits of the smoker.
– If the person smokes occasionally, chewing gum is the ideal nicotinic substitute. The smoker will chew a piece of gum as soon as he feels the urge to smoke. On the other hand, if he smokes all day, patches are more recommended, as they meet the daily need.
– If the person smokes less than 20 cigarettes a day, the lowest dosage is recommended.
If self-medication is not enough, it is possible to obtain a prescription for bupropion (Zyban®) or varenicline (Champix®). These drugs require a medical consultation, as the doctor must determine whether there are contraindications, the most serious of which are depressive mood and suicidal thoughts. These medications should be avoided by depressed people as well as people suffering from psychiatric illnesses.
You should know that drugs (bupropion and varenicline) taken together to stop smoking are more effective than a single dose of each drug. Talk to your doctor. Some physicians still add an SSRI class antidepressant to smoking cessation therapy, especially if the patient suffers from depression (a possible withdrawal symptom after smoking cessation).
Medication notes (nicotine, bupropion or varenicline)
All these drug treatments do not work 100%, because some individuals will relapse (stop smoking and then return to the habit), others will not simply stop but some will stop smoking for good.
Studies have shown that using medication to stop smoking was more effective than not using medication at all: the success rate was higher. These three drugs (bupropion, nicotine or varenicline) for smoking cessation also showed slightly greater effectiveness compared to patients who took placebo.
Note, however, that taking medication to stop smoking is only one element of success in quitting smoking for good. Other aspects, such as the psychological or cognitive aspect are also very important. For example, some people will always want a cigarette while drinking coffee, how to “block” this association in the brain? Medications cannot always remove this craving, other therapies should be considered.
Some health professionals or agencies specializing in tobacco will give you valuable tips.
It is also possible to complement the treatment of smoking with natural methods, to ease the symptoms (nervousness, sleep disturbances).
Some alternatives may be: group therapy, acupuncture, electronic cigarettes or even hypnosis.
In homeopathy, it is possible to make 9CH gelsemium granules, at the rate of 3 granules 2 to 3 times a day. These granules must be placed under the tongue and must be taken on an empty stomach.
Essential oils are also very effective in treating smoking.
With atmospheric diffusion, a few drops of mandarin essential oil will calm and relax you, and free you from your anxiety, your irritability.
There’s always lavender essential oil that you can apply to your wrists for frequent breathing. Its relaxing effect is proven.
A Tel Aviv University study showed that smoking cessation medications (eg, nicotine patch, bupropion, varenicline) had a 1-year success rate of only 8%. This is a meta-analysis that looked at 28,000 people. This study was published on January 29, 2018 in the scientific journal Addiction (DOI: 10.1111 / add.14134).
Alternative treatment
For people who prefer alternative medicine, here are some possible herbal remedies. We also highlight that allopathy and alternative medicine are compatible and can be complementary.
herbal medicine to stop smoking
Phytotherapy can be used to detoxify the body or to alleviate the most common symptoms of tobacco withdrawal: nervousness and anxiety.
In case of detoxification, green coffee bean or valerian root can be used.
The nervousness caused by abstinence from tobacco can be reduced thanks to valerian, hops or passion fruit in the form of dragees or infusions.
Tips to quit smoking
To succeed in quitting smoking, it is important that the future ex-smoker really wants to quit, listing the risks that tobacco poses to health will not have any effect. On the other hand, proper follow-up can improve your determination.
Tips in case of smoking cessation treatment
Tips for chewing gum:
– They must be chewed slowly (chew 10 times, leave aside in the mouth, chew 10 more times and then for about 30 minutes), so as not to release the amount of nicotine too quickly.
– do not drink acidic drinks (coffee, fruit juice, coke…)
Tips for the stickers:
– regularly change the place of the sticker
– wash your hands after applying the patch
– treatment is carried out in 3 phases: maximum dose during the first 3-4 weeks. The dose should be reduced every 2 to 4 weeks. The treatment lasts a maximum of 3 months.
Tips to help quit smoking:
– as soon as you feel the urge to smoke, wait 3 minutes before lighting up
– Write down the advantages of quitting smoking on a piece of paper and keep it with you in a visible place
Prevention
Smoking is one of the leading causes of death among smokers and those around them (passive smokers). But this problem can be avoided by prevention.
State prevention measures exist, such as the tax on cigarettes. This tax was designed to discourage people from smoking. The resources of this tax allow the implementation of programs, awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of tobacco.
The ban on advertising cigarette brands also contributed to the decrease in tobacco consumption.
Warning messages on cigarette packages are an important tool in the fight against smoking.
New laws against smoking in public places are designed primarily to protect non-smokers from passive smoking. In restaurants, it not only protects customers, but also workers.
WHO has created monitoring systems to assess tobacco harm.
However, tobacco remains a legal drug and still represents an important lobby (pressure on public authorities). It is important, in addition to all the threats to the smoker’s personal health, that he realizes his own responsibility towards others: his family, his children and close people.
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