Smoking Cessation

 Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Each year, more than 440,000 Americans die of tobacco-related disease, accounting for 1 in every 5 deaths.

The adverse health effects of smoking have been widely recognized since the 1960s when smoking was closely linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. However, the list of known consequences of tobacco use has grown significantly since. While cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 30% of the cancer deaths each year in the United States, it also contributes substantially to deaths from heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), among others.

It has been estimated that there were 850,000 deaths due to lung cancer worldwide in the year 2000. That year in the United States, there were 184,000 new cases of lung cancer; 46,000 among current smokers and 138,000 among former smokers.

Several large studies have demonstrated that smokers have an increased risk of developing diabetes and that diabetics who smoke may require high doses of insulin for treatment to be effective.

People with mood disorders, psychoses, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders are more likely to be addicted to nicotine than persons without these disorders. Approximately 90% of persons with schizophrenia are smokers.

People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and HIV/AIDS are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of tobacco. Smokers with HIV infection who quit are more likely to respond well to HIV treatment and are less likely to die than HIV-infected smokers who continue to smoke. Benefits of smoking cessation after cancer diagnosis include decreased risk for treatment complications, decreased risk for second primary tumors, improved survival rates, and improved quality of life.

Even smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco) contributes to cancers of the mouth and throat, periodontal disease and tooth decay, and pregnancy-related problems.

Never starting to use tobacco is a better strategy than having to stop. About 70% of the 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States want to quit, however, of those who try to quit in a given year, fewer than 5% succeed. On average, former smokers report 10.8 attempts to quit over a period of 18.6 years before successfully quitting for good. Effective treatments can double or triple quit rates but, unfortunately, many tobacco users never try them. Smokers who utilize behavioral and/or pharmacologic interventions can experience success rates of approximately 20% at least 6 months after quitting.

Nicotine replacement therapies came on the market in 1984 with the introduction of nicotine gum. These therapies reduce the physical withdrawal symptoms allowing the smoker to focus on dealing with the behavioral and psychological aspects of quitting.

There are several new and effective methods available to assist people to stop smoking when they are ready. It is important to speak with your health care provider to obtain support, education and assistance to increase the chance for success.

Learn more by ordering your MediFocus Guidebook on Smoking Cessation, the most comprehensive, up-to-date source of information available. You will get answers to your questions, including:

• What are the risk factors of Smoking Cessation?
• What standard and alternative treatment options are available?
• Where are the leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Smoking Cessation research and treatment?
• What are the results of the latest clinical trials?
• Where are the support groups and additional resources in my area?
• What are the promising new treatments on the horizon?

You won't find this combination of information anywhere else. Your health matters. Don't leave it to chance. Arm yourself with the most comprehensive, up-to-date research available by ordering your MediFocus Guidebook today. Click here to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Smoking Cessation.