Quit strategies for a smoke-free lifestyle

(NC)-In his practice, at any given time, Dr. Charl Els sees hundreds of patients who are highly addicted to tobacco. As director of the Tobacco Dependence Service at the University of Alberta, and Board member of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Els is at the forefront of the latest smoking prevention and treatment options. His patients may come from all walks of life, but many of them share the same challenges when it comes to quitting smoking.

"One of the biggest misconceptions about smoking is that it's often viewed as a lifestyle choice, and not a medical condition," says Dr. Els. "The reality is this is a bona fide chronic relapsing disease."

While the majority of smokers do want to quit at some point in the future, many feel they are not ready or able to quit now.

"Many patients fear withdrawal symptoms, weight gain, or even just failure itself," says Dr. Els. "Quit strategies need to address both the emotional and physical addiction."

Even though most smokers would like to quit, long-term success rates are modest: less than 10 per cent without treatment, and approximately 25 per cent with treatment.

Health Canada recently approved a new approach to smoking cessation using Nicorette Gum that helps smokers gradually reduce their cigarette consumption before stopping completely. This strategy, called Reduce-to-Quit TM (RTQ), offers a prescribed three-step reduction process spanning a four to six month time period.

"Nicotine replacement therapy is among the best, safest therapy for patients - it no doubt enhances their success," says Dr. Els. "Many patients find it extremely difficult to quit all at once, the key is to quit one cigarette at a time, one day at a time. For many of those I treat it is a more practical way of achieving complete cessation because you can control when you are ready to stop. This, combined with effective counseling and support from family and friends can really make a difference."

You can find more information on quit strategies by speaking with your doctor or online at www.reducetoquit.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Tech Tags: quit+smoking smoking stop+smoking smokers quitting+smoking nicorette+gum nicotine