Smoking Cessation and Tobacco Addiction Treatment

Once smokers learn about the risks associated with tobacco, the majority of them desire smoking cessation. But the unfortunate reality is that nicotine, which is present in cigarette products, is very addicting. 80% of cigarette smokers by the age of 20 regrets ever starting, but because of their dependence on nicotine, many will smoke for a sizable amount of their adult life. The addictive qualities of nicotine are mostly to blame for their inability to stop smoking. In order to aid people in quitting smoking, nicotine has recently become a pharmacological substance that is sold as chewing gum.

Similar to other chronic diseases, tobacco use, and dependence are long-term, relapsing problems that may require continuing treatment and recurrent interventions. Most smokers want to quit, but most give up after several tries. As a medical professional, you have a significant role to play in motivating people to quit smoking.

Clinical Intervention Works

A.) A patient’s odds of successfully stopping smoking can quadruple with counseling and medicines.

B.) Treatment for tobacco addiction is a preventive therapy that is reimbursable and covered.

C.) Providing assistance with quitting smoking raises patient satisfaction with treatment.

Quitting Smoking is a Journey not a Destination

A.) Every attempt to quit brings you one step closer to success.

B.) Support your patients through each attempt to quit. Try out novel techniques to manage triggers, such as trying out different drugs or drug combinations.

C.) Motivate patients to reflect on what worked and what did not, then use what they learned to improve their next attempt to quit.

D.) Give patients ongoing support to assist them in quitting permanently.

E.) Keep going! Though it’s difficult, giving up is doable.

Benefits of quitting smoking

Quitting smoking has health benefits at any age, no matter how long or how much you have smoked.

  • After smoking the last cigarette your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years.
  • Minutes after you quit smoking your heart rate drops.
  • 24 hours after you quit smoking the nicotine level in your blood drops to zero.
  • Several days after you quit smoking the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to that of someone who does not smoke.
  • 1 to 12 months after you quit smoking your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
  • 1 to 2 years after you quit smoking your risk of heart attack drops sharply.
  • 3 to 6 years after you quit smoking your added risk of coronary heart disease drops by half.
  • 5 to 10 years after you quit smoking your added risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box drops by half. Your added risk of stroke decreases.
  • 10 years after you quit smoking your risk of cancers of the esophagus, kidney, and bladder decreases.
  • 15 years after you quit smoking your risk of coronary heart disease drops to close to that of someone who does not smoke.
  • 20 years after you quit smoking your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, and pancreas drops to close to that of someone who does not smoke.

20 years after quitting smoking added risk of cervical cancer for women drops by about half.

Aided and Unaided Smoking Cessation

Only 4% of smokers who want to stop will succeed without “smoking cessation support”. The likelihood that a smoker will successfully quit can more than quadruple with “professional-smoking-cessation-support” and tested “smoking cessation medications.”

ENDS and HTP’s

A.) HTP stands for heated tobacco products, and ENDS stands for electronic nicotine delivery systems.

B.) Tobacco corporations have actively marketed new products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and lobbied governments to loosen regulations as cigarette sales have declined.

C.) Tobacco and ENDS businesses employ product design elements that make the goods more alluring, particularly to young consumers. Every time tobacco firms have faced a significant threat, they have produced new products with the claim that they will be less hazardous than traditional cigarettes, giving the industry a new revenue stream.

D.) The objective of the tobacco industry is to introduce another generation to nicotine addiction.

Neurology of Smoking-- Addiction

Addiction to nicotine is quite a similar to addiction to drugs and alcohol in many manners. It is characterized by intense craving, compulsive use, and an inability to stop despite negative consequences. The main areas of the brain impacted are decision-making and behavioral control areas. Over time smokers build a tolerance, requiring increased levels of nicotine to achieve the same neurotransmitter release that triggers pleasure. Not only do smokers suffer from problems that accompany nicotine addiction, but smokers can also suffer from withdrawal symptoms after smoking cessation. Smokers also show reduced participation in social situations where smoking is not allowed.

dTMS: A Novel Treatment for Smoking Cessation

The treatment for smoking addiction is provided at Tulasi Healthcare. Apart from the contemporary treatments done through pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and NRT’s (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) a novel treatment through magnetic radiation is being provided at Tulasi Healthcare. But amongst all the therapies available for smoking cessation, the most novel among them all is dTMS therapy. dTMS stands for “deep-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation”. In this therapy, patented Coils are attached to the patient’s head, by making him wear the Helmet. The coils placed in these helmets target the particular area of the brain being impacted by smoking. As we discussed earlier the part of the brain that is impacted by decision-making and behavior control areas of the brain, so the dTMS machine targets these specific areas only for the treatment of smoking addiction.

Pharmacotherapy for Smoking-Cessation

FDA has approved two medications i.e. Bupropion (Zyban) and Varenicline (Chantix). Both medicines have to be taken in combination over a 7–12-week course of treatment. But along with the positive effects, some side effects can also be seen which may range from nausea, sleeplessness, and rare seizures. These side effects are more prominent for patients who drink alcohol along with smoking.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

NRT’s are available in various forms like gums, sprays, patches, and lozenges. A very small amount of nicotine is provided, helping the smoker cut down on cravings and ease symptoms of withdrawal.

WHO’s Response to Tobacco Quitting

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was overwhelmingly ratified by all WHO Member States in 2003. It has been in effect since 2005 and now has 182 Parties, which represent more than 90% of the global population.

The Dangers of Passive Smoking

There is no safe amount of second-hand smoke exposure, and even a brief exposure can be harmful. Exposure to second-hand smoke can cause serious or deadly diseases like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Non-smokers who live with smokers are more likely to develop these conditions and die early. Children and infants are more prone to respiratory illnesses, middle ear conditions, and sudden infant death syndrome. Second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth and the likelihood that the fetuses would have congenital defects and lower birth weights. The complete prohibition of indoor smoking is the only approach to adequately protect both smokers and non-smokers from second-hand smoke.

Complete and adequate treatment for smoking addiction is presently available at Tulasi Healthcare Rehabilitation Centre. We have trained staff for dTMS therapy, which is a non-invasive procedure for curing smoking addiction. For further queries and information regarding smoking-cessation therapy and dTMS in particular, kindly contact us at 8800000255 or mail us at [email protected]

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