how Quitting smoking

arette smoke contains more than 60 known carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents. Sometimes the carcinogens bind to DNA in the cells and damage it. When cells with damaged DNA survive, duplicate, and accumulate, cancer occurs. Cancer risk is partly determined by the toxicity of tobacco products. However, the risk of disease is also strongly related to the amount and duration of toxin exposure. The longer and more frequently a person smokes, the more likely it is that a tobacco-related cancer will develop.

It is estimated that tobacco causes approximately one-third of all cancer deaths worldwide. Active smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are believed to account for 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Smoking is also a major cause of cancers of the bladder, pancreas, larynx, mouth, and esophagus. People who use chewing tobacco have a substantially increased risk of getting head and neck cancers.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES

Besides lung cancer, smokers often suffer from many other respiratory diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major causes of illness and eventual death in cigarette smokers. COPD refers in general to respiratory diseases in which airflow is obstructed. Two such common illnesses are chronic bronchitis (chronic cough) and emphysema. Active smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are also responsible for increases in other respiratory ailments. Among them are pneumonia, the common cold, and influenza.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Smoking has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke binds to hemoglobin in the blood, causing fewer molecules to be available to transport oxygen. In addition, blood flow to and from the heart is reduced. This forces the heart to work harder to deliver oxygen to the body. Such strain places smokers at significantly greater risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

PREGNANCY AND CHILDREN

Women who smoke are more likely to experience infertility and miscarriage. When a pregnant woman smokes, some toxins from the smoke can pass to the fetus. These toxins can later affect an infant’s lung development and function. Babies of women who smoke are more likely to be born prematurely, to have a low birth weight, and to have slower initial growth. Infants in households where there is a smoker are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When raised in a household in which they are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, children are more likely to suffer from asthma and chronic cough.

QUITTING SMOKING

Knowledge about the harm that smoking may cause can help influence people to quit smoking. Smoking rates dropped sharply in the United States after the surgeon general issued a report on smoking in 1964. The report informed the public about a link between smoking and cancer. By 2000 the U.S. smoking rate was about half that of 1960. Furthermore, strong anti-smoking warnings and health-related messages generally increase smokers’ motivation to quit. That happened when Canada adopted strong graphic warnings on cigarette packaging. In addition, support from family members and friends can play an important part in the process of quitting.

Unfortunately, the addictive quality of nicotine means that most people who try to stop smoking start again within a few weeks of quitting. People who smoke any cigarettes at all usually smoke enough to develop an addiction to nicotine. In general, the more cigarettes a person smokes per day, the greater is the addiction and the more difficult it is to quit. Another factor that impedes quitting is the likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping nicotine intake. These symptoms include cravings for smoking, depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia.

COLD TURKEY

The most common approach that people take to stop smoking is that of quitting “cold turkey,” or suddenly and completely. This approach is rarely effective the first time it is tried. However, through repeated efforts, some people eventually succeed. Hypnosis, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and other approaches are often advertised as ways to help quit smoking. These methods undoubtedly have been able to help some people quit smoking. However, they have not been proved to be any more effective than simply deciding to quit.

BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Behavioral intervention involves working with a counselor to manage behavior associated with tobacco addiction. Support can come from a structured smoking-cessation program with group, one-on-one, or telephone counseling. An individual’s plan should include strategies for avoiding or managing situations that might stimulate a craving for a cigarette. For example, for a few weeks or months, some people will need to avoid certain places and activities that they associate with smoking. Others will find it useful to learn methods for coping with stress or occasional cravings. These methods may include breathing deeply or chewing gum.

NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

When quitting, many people prefer to use a nicotine medication that helps address the physical aspects of nicotine dependence and withdrawal. Nicotine replacement therapy delivers nicotine to the body in relatively small controlled doses. This is typically done by means of a patch applied to the skin, chewing gum, a nasal spray, an inhaler, or tablets. These products are comparably effective and are safe when used as directed. A couple of prescription drugs that reduce both smoking withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke are available.

E-CIGARETTES

E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, were introduced in 2003. They are battery-operated devices modeled after regular cigarettes. However, since they do not use tobacco or other plant material, they do not technically fit the definition of smoking. Instead, an e-cigarette has an atomizer and a cartridge containing either a nicotine or a non-nicotine liquid solution. When the device is operated, the battery heats the liquid in the cartridge. The atomizer vaporizes the liquid, emitting it as a mist that users inhale. This process is sometimes called vaping. E-cigarettes are often marketed as effective smoking-cessation tools, although scientific evidence has not proved the claims. In addition, e-cigarettes have been subjected to only very limited safety testing, and the vapor from e-cigarettes can contain potentially toxic substances