Tag: quit chewing

Evidence Based Approach for Successfully Quitting Tobacco

Quitting Tobacco is easy but staying quit is difficult! People quit tobacco to restart and this cycle goes on leading to frustration and loss of confidence. With increasing awareness people come to me with “Please don’t tell me why, TELL ME HOW TO QUIT”.

Why is it So difficult to quit?

Why is it people are not able to quit tobacco, in spite of so much of awareness about Tobacco.  According to World Health Organization Tobacco is a DISEASE (and not just a habit). And it is a Complex disease. Like any other disease it has to be treated. Complexity lies in the fact that there are various component of this disease that includes – social, psychological, and physical.  Each of these components have to be recognized, explored and treated.

When to quit?

Earlier the better. Continuing Tobacco use is definitely going to harm you and it is just not cancer, it can be cardiovascular, respiratory, Central nervous system, skin, dental every part of our body is harmed by tobacco besides unidentified mineral and vitamin deficiency. Has tobacco started affecting you – it is important you check yourself and recognize any of the 27 early signs of Tobacco use. If you quit hopefully these may be reversed and you can get back to normal. Continuing will lead to more of any of the 19 diseases   And if one still continues it would cause major 10 advanced disease which would cause morbidity, pain and death.  Remember all tobacco users will have some or the other disease, better quit now.

Components of Tobacco Disease – Is your will power enough to quit tobacco? This is the dilemma. A proper assessment by Fagerstrom grading system into mild, moderate and severe grade of the tobacco addiction disease is to be done. Recognizing the predominant component of the tobacco disease – social, psychological and physical for the person and treating accordingly.  A tool is available to assess the will power of the person (free APP for android  – ICANCARE). The treatment of this disease is done accordingly.

Methods of Quitting – The intervention therapy includes – Behavioral therapy and Pharmacological therapy. Both intervention are important and essential part of the treatment.  The proper intervention includes individual and group counselling and treatment with medication to decrease the withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are the biggest deterrent of successful cessation. Now specific medicine is available which decreases the withdrawal symptoms and at the same time blocks the nicotine receptor in the brain.

Who can help me quit– Most of the people have tried quitting multiple times before they actually seek help by a professional who is trained for the purpose. Most of the doctors fail to help as tobacco addiction is a complex disease and everyone are not trained to handle this. There are two types of doctors – AAR (ask, advise and refer) or 5A (ask, advise, assess, assist and arrange). Training program – Certificate Course has been introduced  for the first time in India to upgrade the skills of the doctors to be able to treat these large number of patients of tobacco addiction. Recognized ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness centers are coming up to specifically help these patients.

Relapse  – The cycle of tobacco addiction includes the planning phase, active phase and maintenance phase. The whole cycle lasts for 2 years. A person may relapse at any point of time so has to be vigilant and recognize any triggers. Most common cause of relapse is social, and one trail means you have to START once again. A Tobacco Wellness App is available to keep track of the tobacco habit for the patient.

Tobacco is a complex endemic disease. It is well recognized and now diagnostic methodology, specific medicines and counselling process are available to treat this disease. The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY authored by Dr. Pawan Gupta is a comprehensive guide for those willing to quit and also for doctors. It is moral responsibility of all doctors taking training to understand the intricacies of the disease and advise the patient in an evidence based method for tobacco quit to be successfully.

Max Super Specialty Hospital understands the need and ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness center is now serving tobacco addicts to help them quit the habit at the Vaishali unit of Max Hospital. Current success rate is 92%. Do visit ICanCaRe site to know more about the quit process and to register for seeking professional help for quitting today!

(The Author – Dr Pawan Gupta M.Ch. is Director of Surgical Oncology at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Vaishali and has written many book on tobacco and is highly recognized for his work on Oral Cancer and Tobacco Cessation.)

Make quitting tobacco a pleasure journey. Talk to the experts!! Call ICanCaRe Quitline 011-43077695 or visit  www.icancare.in.

Coughing After Quitting Smoking What To Do?

POST QUIT Smokers Cough – Take Care

Some may notice increase in coughing when they stop smoking. This is only for short period of time and is not a part of the withdrawal symptoms. So why does it occur?  One thing is for sure – DO NOT GO BACK TO SMOKING! Post quit smokers cough is a bodies reaction to healing and need to be managed.

COUGHING – OUR BODY’S NATURAL PROTECTION

The respiratory system – Trachea and bronchus are lined by mucus and Cilia (which are hair like projections). The sticky mucus layer traps the harmful particles we inhale and the thousands of cilia which lines the tract, with rapid movements push the trapped harmful particles with affected mucus upwards out into the throat which is now either spitted or swallowed. This natural protection keeps our trachea healthy and free from infection and diseases.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON SMOKES?

The protection is overwhelmed. The tar in smoke gets deposited in the trachea forming thick layers. The chemicals added in cigarettes paralyses the cilia. The person is prone for higher infection and the inhaled toxic particles from smoke, inhaled dust, germs etc remain inside the lungs with increase risk of infection and respiratory diseases like chronic bronchitis and lung cancer.

COUGHING ON CESSATION (QUITTING SMOKING)

On cessation the body starts healing and the cilia starts recovering! With gradual recovery the mucus with toxic materials is pushed out into the throat. This causes cough for the first couple of months till one is free of toxins and complete recovery of ciliary function is attained.

WHAT TO DO FOR THE COUGH?

The fact is cleansing should continue, it is helping our body get rid of toxins and pollutants –

  • No cough suppressants, but mucolytic and bronchodilators where indicated may be used.
  • Drink plenty of water, juices or tea. (4Ds of Tobacco Cessation )
  • Ayurvedic drink like mulethi (licorice) or Kaadha or just honey can soothe out the throat. Watch video – Natural Home treatment for Smoker’s Cough
  • Nebuliser with simple saline water or otherwise steam inhalation to keep the tract humidified
  • Acapella a magnetic respiratory device helps in opening up the alveoli and loosen mucus increasing the oxygenation power of the lungs.

SOMETHING IS SERIOUS IF YOU SEE THESE SYMPTOMS?

If any of these symptoms below are noticed, the doctor has to be consulted – mostly it is due to inflammation and can be treated. Any other hidden signs need a Specialist’s attention.

  • Breathing difficulty – breathlessness on mild exertion or at rest.
  • Wheezing – stridor like sound indicates airway constriction
  • Blood in sputum -Blood in cough

Well friends, smoking or tobacco withdrawal do cause some discomfort, but these are part of healing process and are temporary. These should not be deterrents of cessation.

The benefits of quitting smoking are undeniable although the quit journey may be a little bumpy. It is better and easier to quit before you start showing symptoms of change in your body due to tobacco use.

ICanCaRe team of Certified tobacco Cessation Specialists and Quit Coaches work with you to make your journey smooth and easy.

ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness Centres with its India’s first digital protocol based assessment process guide intervention as per requirements.

Call 011-430-77695 or visit ICanCaRe Webpage to seek assistance for quitting tobacco completely. Make your journey of quitting easy and pleasurable with the experts. 

Will Power and Quit Tobacco

Quitting is Easy and Just a Call Away! Call 011-430-77695 Today for Assistance!

Just like real muscles, your willpower can experience fatigue. This is why using willpower exercises repeatedly to deal with tempting situations, such as people offering you a cigarette, may lead to a smoking slip-up.

It’s a good idea to bear this in mind and have a plan for managing these situations or if you feel your willpower fading.

A common belief among smokers is that you either have willpower or you don’t.

However, willpower is often linked to motivation – and the great thing about motivation is that you have the power to change it! If you have low levels of willpower or motivation now, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay low.

The trick is to make a start on developing your willpower.

Do check your will power index on the ICanCaRe APP – Download here.

Will power off course is an important component of tobacco cessation but that alone may not be enough.  At some point of time it may get overwhelmed, and you slip and that would be start of relapse. The withdrawal and cravings are not just hearsay but real, this needs a support of tobacco cessation specialist to help you during your journey. If one is contemplating to quit, the ICanCaRe cessation specialist makes an individualized plan that may include your behaviour therapy and medicines. Adhering to the plan needs regular reinforcement and that is provided by the unique Tobacco Quit Coach on a regular basis. Review of the plan is done regularly and challenges addressed.

ICanCaRe Tobacco wellness centre is here to provide you the means and solutions to your Quit Journey.