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Trying to quit smoking? Dr. Healton offers help

As part of our TODAY Calls It Quits series, Dr. Cheryl Healton, President and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, and a former smoker herself, answers your questions.Q: Dr. Healton, I am on my sixth day smoke free and it seems that everyone is trying my patience. How do I keep these outbursts under control without creating more habits? Thank you for your help.- Alicia Reisinger, Brazil, Indiana
/ Source: TODAY

As part of our TODAY Calls It Quits series, Dr. Cheryl Healton, President and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, and a former smoker herself, answers your questions.

Q: Dr. Healton, I am on my sixth day smoke free and it seems that everyone is trying my patience. How do I keep these outbursts under control without creating more habits? Thank you for your help.

- Alicia Reisinger, Brazil, Indiana



A: I know exactly how you feel – and so will every smoker who is reading this who has ever tried to quit.  When the brain is deprived of nicotine, it is very common for smokers to become irritable.  Once you understand why you are feeling this way, you can give yourself a break.  Every smoker has moments throughout their day when their brain reminds them that it needs more nicotine. These triggers set off alarms first thing in the morning when you wake up, and in intervals all throughout the day.  There are some simple strategies you can use to manage your irritability when you are feeling this way, including:

  • take a brisk walk, or run
  • slowly drink a glass of water
  • use some deep breathing to relax

Social support is important when one is quitting so don’t be shy about asking for support from your friends and family.  If they aren’t able to provide the support you need, go to BecomeAnEX.org and join the community there. On the site, you’ll re-learn your life without cigarettes. Simply put, you can’t just quit and expect to stay quit…your brain won’t let you.  This is why nicotine replacement therapies (like the patch, gum and lozenge) can sharply reduce cravings and help you over those first few days and weeks.  Using Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) along with a medicine to reduce withdrawal symptoms such as bupropion are known to increase your chances of successfully quitting.  Identify your triggers, learn to manage them and you’ll succeed long term.  If you relapse – and most smokers do – don’t beat yourself up, just try again. Every time you try, you’re one step closer to being completely free of cigarettes.  You can do it, Alicia.  Good luck!  

Q: I heard a rumor about a vaccination for nicotine addiction was in the works. When (if this rumor is true) will this vaccine be on the market?

- Thomas, Bryan, Ohio

A: This has been in the news and is a very timely question.  However,   there is no “vaccine” available now because clinical trials are still currently underway and the product is in the investigational stage.  Pre-clinical studies indicate that this product - once approved by the Food and Drug Administration - could prevent nicotine from reaching the brain and blocking its effects.       

Q: What is your opinion of hypnosis to quit smoking?

- J Addeo

A: I’m really glad you asked this question because many smokers are interested in learning more about alternative therapies, such as hypnosis, acupuncture, and laser therapy because they have heard anecdotal stories about other smokers quitting successfully with these treatments.  While many of us may know someone who has used hypnosis to quit smoking, scientific studies do not support the effectiveness of these treatments when large numbers of people are studied over time.  Research further suggests that the reason why these treatments work among select smokers is actually due to their positive expectations about the treatment and not the treatment itself.

Research does, however show that your best chances of quitting successfully are with a comprehensive plan including medication, quit coaching and social support.  Even if this is your fifth or sixth attempt to quit and even if you or a friend tried medications before and they didn’t work, don’t underestimate the power of medications. Medications, such as over the counter nicotine gum, lozenges or patches (sometimes known as NRTs) and non-nicotine prescription pills do work.  They can double your chances of quitting.  Simply put, they make the withdrawal symptoms much more bearable until your body can naturally return to normal.

Q: I am a 48-year-old woman who started smoking when I was 14 years old. I have been on Chantix for the last 3 months and have not had a cigarette. My question is: What happens when I stop taking the Chantix? My doctor says I can only stay on it for 6 months.

- Mickie Heilman, Bradenton, Fla.

A:   Good for you, Mickie.  Chantix is working well for many smokers.  It is recommended that you take this medication for a full 12 weeks unless prescribed differently by your doctor. It is important to take Chantix as your doctor prescribes, every day. People who have successfully quit after 12 weeks using Chantix may benefit from taking Chantix for an additional 12 weeks.

I would recommend that you first speak to your doctor to find out what is recommended for you. If after completing a course of Chantix, you still believe that you are likely to start smoking again, talk to your doctor about another short-term therapy you can take such as bupropion to reduce the chance of relapse.  Visit www. BecomeAnEX.org for help in staying smoke-free.  

Q: I am a 41-year-old male with asthma and need to quit. I also fight other addictions every day. I am a recovering alcoholic. And I think I need to quit smoking soon and quit saying it's ok to smoke because I don't drink any more.

- Dale Leslie, Saint Marys, Pa.

A: Congratulations on your recovery journey.  As you may have heard, many alcoholism treatment programs are smoke-free now or provide smoking cessation in conjunction with alcoholism treatment.  In fact, studies have shown that among recovering alcoholics they are far more likely to die of tobacco-related causes than alcohol- related causes.  Your decision to try to quit is a great one and will likely add years to your life.  I would recommend that you consider quitting because of your potential risk of lung cancer and the fact that your asthma is made worse by smoking.  Please know that smokers typically don’t quit the first time out so view each of your quit attempts as another step on the road to ultimate success.

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Questions about quitting smoking

Jan. 30: NBC’s chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman answers viewers’ questions about kicking their nicotine habits.

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trueH6falsetrue1Q: Is it true that many American cigarette manufacturers increased the amount of nicotine in cigarettes in the last few years? Does our government have any say in such a move obviously made to addict smokers worse than they are?

- Dan McCreedy, White Lake, MI



A: Researchers from Harvard University did in fact detect that the nicotine levels inhaled by smokers increased from 1998-2004.  Presently there is no federal regulatory control over cigarettes. Legislation to allow the Food and Drug Administration to have authority over tobacco is currently pending in Congress.  If passed, that legislation would allow the reduction of nicotine levels in cigarettes but not its complete elimination.  To learn more, visit the Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids’ Web site at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

Q: Hello Dr.Cheryl, Is it true that no smoking cessation method works better than will power? I am 21 and have been smoking for only 2 years. Several people have told me that with my age, I shouldn't need any method to stop smoking except for a strong mind. It still seems out of reach.

- Meghan Carr, Cerritos, Calif.

A: Nicotine is a very addictive drug.  It is important to understand how strong that addiction is and to know that it is ok to seek help to quit smoking.  To be fair, quitting does involve a certain amount of will power, but most importantly, being ready to quit smoking means being willing to sit down and make a plan of how to quit.  The truth is, quitting cold turkey, without a plan just doesn't work for most people.  In fact, it works less than 5 percent of the time.  It does not take long to become dependent on nicotine, so even though you have only been smoking for two years, it's okay to seek help.  Why not increase your chances as much as possible to quit successfully? 

An effective strategy includes:

  • Medications:  Over-the-counter nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches and other prescription medications can increase your odds of success.
  • Coaching:  By working with someone who's trained in helping people get through the quitting process, you can increase your chances of quitting successfully by up to 70%.
  • Social Support:  Getting friends, family, and coworkers to support you while you quit can improve your chances of quitting, too!

Q: My husband has smoked 21/2 to 3 packs a day, the thought of him quitting terrifies him, and keeps me in a haze of smoke, just mentioning how damaging his smoking is to his health and mine makes him angry, and normally starts an argument as he refuses to go outside to smoke.

- Betty Brown

A: It is common for couples to argue about smoking issues but you should know that secondhand smoke is in fact deadly and your fears are valid.  Your chance of developing lung cancer is doubled by living with a smoker and recent studies suggest your risk of heart attack is also elevated. Perhaps you might go together to a physician to discuss how he can succeed in quitting and give the physician an opportunity to explain to your husband the ill effects of secondhand smoke.  For years, the tobacco industry created “junk science” in an effort to convince the public that secondhand smoke and indeed smoking itself were harmless. It may be that your husband is not fully aware of the latest research that underscores just how deadly smoking can be for him and his loved ones.