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Don't try to kick the smoking habit alone

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Most people try quitting a number of times before they finally succeed.
Most people try quitting a number of times before they finally succeed.

Going solo when trying to quit smoking isn't enough, one lung health expert says.

"Smokers develop a physiological dependence on nicotine, and they need more than willpower to quit," said Dr Danish Ahmad, a pulmonologist with Penn State Health's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

The American Cancer Society says that smokers typically try quitting eight to 10 times before succeeding. That may sound daunting, but there's good news.

According to Diane Schmeck, a certified tobacco treatment specialist at Penn State Health, "The more times people try to quit, the more successful they might be the next time."

Immediate benefits

Though about 70% of smokers know they want to quit, particularly to avoid lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, there are many lesser known health risks. Smoking can cause cancer of the oesophagus, pancreas and stomach, as well as breathing issues that can lead to emphysema.

"Smoking affects your small blood vessels, which can mean poor circulation in the arms or legs, or a greater risk of erectile dysfunction in males," Schmeck said in a Penn State Health news release.

But if you quit, benefits can be seen immediately, Ahmad said.

"Within 20 minutes, a smoker's heart rate and blood pressure improves, and within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level drops," he said.

Keep working on your health

Smokers have the highest likelihood of quitting through programmes integrating one-on-one counselling, group support and medication, research shows. Nicotine replacement therapy is commonly recommended.

"These medicines replace the nicotine the body is seeking as a result of smoking cigarettes," Ahmad said. "The other types are oral medications, the most frequently recommended of which is varenicline (Chantix)."

Many insurance companies cover smoking cessation programmes, Ahmad noted.

"The best thing you can do for your health is to keep working on it," he advised.

Image credit: iStock

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