One way to quit smoking, care about your health--expert

Are you one of those smokers who want to quit but can’t?

In a recently held forum, “Why Quitting Can’t Wait: A Forum on Nicotine Addiction,” Dr. Karl Fagerstrom, known as the father of smoking cessation, said that if the smoker cared for his health, then he should quit.

“They should stop smoking because if they care for their health, it’s [smoking] a very stupid thing to do since smoking kills every second of life of a smoker,” Fagerstrom said.

The Department of Health cited that 70% of smokers wanted to quit but only 30% of them have been serious and successful.

Dr. Edgardo Juan Tolentino, president of the Group for Addiction Psychiatry of the Philippines, said in the same forum that smokers found it hard to kick the habit because they underwent neuro-adaptation, a phenomenon wherein the brain has learned to adapt to substances of abuse due to continuous exposure to these.

Fagerstrom said that the most effective treatments would be to either seek professional help or use some form of nicotine replacement like gum or varenicline, a generic drug in pill form. In the Philippines, Pfizer Inc. has introduced varenicline as Champix.

A statement released by Pfizer said that varenicline was “one of the more effective treatments available for smoking cessation and was the only non-nicotine, doctor-prescribed pharmacologic treatment for nicotine addiction.”

“Varenicline gives patients a greater chance of quitting,” according to Pfizer, citing clinical studies where “44 percent of the more than 6,000 patients who used the drug successfully quit smoking in 12 weeks.”

Fagerstrom said that his patients go through a smoking cessation program for a period of at least three months.

Once the patient decides to take the smoking cessation program, the patient should set a timetable indicating when he would stop, Tolentino also said.

With the decision to quit, Tolentino said smokers would go through the following stages:

• Pre-contemplation where smokers become aware of the negative effects of the habit and realize that this is harmful to their health;
• Seek professional help; and
• Take action against the habit.

Tolentino also emphasized how important the families, friends, and co-workers of the smoker would be in his or her desire to change.

Tolentino also said that parents should lead by example. “If I am the father, and I’m a smoker, I will not have the moral authority to tell my kid to stop smoking.”

Fagerstrom said that a non-smoker surrounded by smokers in the workplace should have the courage to tell the smoker not to do so in front of him.

To those who have not yet tried smoking, Fagerstrom shared this piece of advice: “Best thing is to never start smoking!”
Source

Coalition teams with state officials to sponsor stop smoking contest

For the second straight year, the local tobacco control coalition for Vigo County is teaming with state health officials to sponsor a statewide stop smoking contest known as “Quit 2 Win.”

The contest will offer cash prizes totaling $5,000, including a top prize of $2,500. Once the winner is determined, the prizes will be awarded later this fall.

To sign up, people can visit any one of the following locations: Booker T. Washington Community Center; Casey Indiana Business College; Indiana State University Cunningham Memorial Library; Owens Hall at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College; Bemis; Vigo County Public Library; and Kroger South.

The contest comes at an important time, as cigarette consumption in the state of Indiana is down significantly. In July 2007, a law was passed raising Indiana’s tobacco tax by 44 cents from 55 to 99 cents. Since that time, cigarette consumption in Indiana has dropped by 17.8 percent.

In order to enter the contest, you must be at least age 18, and pledge to stop using tobacco between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15.

All “Quit 2 Win” entries must be received by Sept. 1.

A winner will be drawn at random and tested to make sure they are tobacco-free. Cash prizes of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, will be awarded to the second-place and third-place finishers. To enter online, visit the INShape www.inshape.IN.gov and click on the “Quit 2 Win” icon.

Hoosiers interested in signing up for the contest also can enter in person by filling out an entry card at various fairs and festivals throughout the state.
Source

Few aware that smoking can cause bladder cancer

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, a new study shows that few know that it is a major risk factor for bladder cancer -- even among people who have the disease.

In a research review published in the Journal of Urology, investigators found that in one recent study, just over one third of adults knew that smoking raises the risk of bladder cancer. In contrast, 98 percent correctly identified the habit as a risk factor for lung cancer.

What's more, a study of patients with early-stage bladder cancer found that just 22 percent knew that smoking contributes to the disease.

All of this points to a serious shortcoming in patient education, according to Drs. Seth A. Strope and James E. Montie of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor.

"A big gap exists between patient knowledge and their actual risk," Strope said in a written statement.

Smoking is believed to be responsible for half of bladder cancer cases, the researchers note, so quitting could substantially reduce a smoker's risk of the disease. And for people who've been successfully treated for early bladder cancer, quitting can reduce the chances of a recurrence.

One study Strope and Montie reviewed found that when smokers with bladder cancer quit after their diagnosis, they reduced their risk of recurrence by about 30 percent compared with patients who continued to smoke.

Despite this, the researchers found that many smokers -- even those with bladder cancer -- say their doctor never advised them to quit. In a government study of U.S. adults, only half of smokers with a physician said they had received advice to quit. And a UK study of bladder cancer patients found that only 7 percent said their urologist had told them to quit smoking.

"Our study suggests that physicians must do a much better job of communicating the risk to our patients, and directing them toward smoking cessation programs," Strope said.

SOURCE: Journal of Urology, July 2008.

Nicotine Effects. Want the truth about Nicotine Patches?

Tagged: nicotine patch, nicotine patches, nicotine replacement therapy, quit smoking
Nicotine is a drug that can keep a person addicted to the dangerous habit of smoking cigarettes, this only happens to be the tip of several ice-burgs where nicotine effects are present. Small amounts of nicotine can cause a person to have lightheaded or dizzy symptoms, nausea, along with potential heart, breathing and blood pressure problems.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products are available to alleviate several nicotine effects when a smoker decides to quit the habit of smoking cigarettes. Typically when a smoker quits the habit he or she can face numerous side effects within a few short hours or days. This can range in symptoms from irritable behavior through to a lack of concentration, and the symptoms will vary from one person to another.

Nicotine can cause a smoker to experience a pleasurable notion therefore causing a psychological addition to the drug. A smoker can experience many pleasurable emotions along with a desirable need to maintain these emotions or feelings. Many smokers would rather continue to be addicted to the drug due to the nicotine effects of quitting smoking. It can be an extremely stressful task to undertake.

Along with nicotine patches and gum, there are also nicotine products available in terms of nasal sprays or inhalers. It is however important that a smoker does not continue to smoke cigarettes during the process of using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products as he or she may suffer the effects of nicotine overdose.

Overall the nicotine effects can be numerous; difficulties arise for those who continue to smoke cigarettes along with those who wish to quit the habit are inevitable. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products can of course alleviate many of the withdrawal symptoms associated with the addiction however it is advisable that each smoker seeks the advice of a professional such as a Doctor, Physician, or Pharmacist before undergoing the treatment to successfully quit smoking forever.

Want the truth about Nicotine Patches? Then visit the Easy Quit System to successfully quit smoking 3 hours or less!

Hospital bans outdoor smoking

Bandon’s Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center is paving the way as a community leader by responding to Oregon’s no-smoking legislation with a new policy of its own. The facility became a tobacco-free campus on July 1.

The vision of hospital CEO Jim Wathen, a 39-year smoker who quit his habit about 16 months ago, the program has extended the state’s ban against smoking inside buildings to the entire hospital property.

Wathen believes that, as a community leader in a small city, the hospital has a level of responsibility for promoting healthy lifestyles.

“One of the worst problems is smoking,” he said.

“We don’t deserve recognition as a community leader if we don’t address this prime concern,” Wathen said.

According to the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon, each day 18 Oregonians die from tobacco use, 20 Oregon kids start smoking and 35,000 Oregonians are still exposed to secondhand smoke at work. TOFOC’s challenge to Oregonians is for communities to “take responsibility and become tobacco-free,” and “learn ways to fight the health and economic toll of tobacco use.” Southern Coos Hospital has stepped up to the challenge.

Now that Southern Coos is tobacco-free, hospital employees may no longer use any tobacco product on the campus. They are required to go off property if they must use tobacco during their workday, according to Wathen.

Southern Coos cannot fine patients and other visitors if they choose to smoke on the property, Wathen said. But, staff will politely ask them to smoke or use tobacco in their vehicles. In-patients will have access to free counseling if they want to quit, he added.

The program also has taken a pro-active role by establishing specific programs to help those employees who wish to stop using tobacco products.

Through the Employee Assistance Program, hospital employees may seek personal counseling or take advantage of the services of a staff nutritional counselor to stop using tobacco.

The hospital’s doctors are authorized to prescribe “proscriptive aids” for the initial 30-day period, Wathen said. Employees may also use over-the-counter aids at work. These aids do not contain tobacco and are used to help wean users off nicotine, the addictive element in tobacco. “Nicotine is among the top 1 percent of the most addictive substances. Few things are more addictive,” Wathen said.

Wathen admits that smoking is an enjoyable habit. He noted that most smokers do not like to think that it is an addiction. He added that statistics indicate that an average of 15- to 20-percent of the population will always be smokers.

Knowing from personal experience how difficult it is to quit and that coming to a hospital can be stressful, Wathen stated that it is vital to have a supportive environment in which to stop using tobacco. The hospital has replaced ashtrays with candies as one subtle encouragement. Wathen also intends to give staff members individual recognition for quitting.

“If just one person quits, that makes the program a success,” he said.

For more information about specific rules regarding the new tobacco ban at Southern Coos, those interested can contact Lauren Paquet, administrative assistant, at 347-2426.
Source

Big Tobacco, Meet Big Philanthropy

Is it possible that the tobacco industry has met its match? After years of watching public-health groups and governments struggle to rein in the multinational tobacco companies, it was good to hear that Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and Bill Gates have joined forces to combat the smoking epidemic threatening many low- and middle-income countries.

When two highly visible billionaire philanthropists put their resources and stature behind a campaign, the results are apt to be good. And their target is a worthy one: tobacco companies and government-owned tobacco enterprises trying to addict hundreds of millions of new customers in the developing world as sales stagnate or shrivel in the industrialized nations.

Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Gates jointly announced commitments from their charitable foundations last week that will raise the money available to roughly $500 million over the next several years. Mr. Bloomberg plans to invest another $250 million over the next four years on top of $125 million that already had been committed. Mr. Gates, who was happy to join the crusade, is to allocate $125 million over five years.

The new funds will dwarf the $20 million a year currently spent on antismoking campaigns in poor and middle-income countries. The money is to be spent to promote strategies whose effectiveness has already been proved to the satisfaction of the World Health Organization. The campaign will urge governments to sharply raise tobacco taxes, prohibit smoking in public places, ban tobacco advertising, start antismoking campaigns and help people quit smoking. It will assist governmental agencies and provide funding for nongovernmental organizations to help press for tobacco controls.

The goal is to reverse the rapid rise of smoking in such countries as China, India and Russia and to head off the epidemic in Africa before it can become entrenched. One big problem is that many countries have become addicted to the revenues generated by tobacco taxes or government-owned tobacco companies. They will have to be persuaded that the long-term health damage caused by tobacco far exceeds any short-term gain from tobacco revenues.
Source

Smoking ban aids workers to quit

By Telegraph newsdesk »

A BLACKBURN-based charity which provides shelter and support for young people is trying to lead by example by introd-ucing a no-smoking policy amongst staff.

Seven out of 12 staff at Nightsafe, which operates the ‘Fusebox’ day centre, two hostels and an emerg-ency shelter for young people, were smokers.

But after changing its policy as a result of the last year’s ban on smoking in public places, three of the seven workers have decided to quit.

They have been helped by East Lancashire PCT Stop Smoking service, who gave a presentation to staff and then held further events.

Operations manager Linda Sharratt said: “Some of our staff were more pos-itive about giving up bec-ause it had become more difficult for them to smoke at work.

“It was especially testing for staff on duty overnight as they had to go outside to smoke. We also have a policy of not smoking in front of the young people who come to us for help.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about the East Lancashire PCT’s Stop Smoking Services on the following numbers: Hyndburn and Ribble Valley – 01254 358095; Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale – 01282 607002.