Cigarettes- the Good News & the Bad News

Let's start off with the GOOD news- the CDC's anti-smoking TIPS campaign has turned out to be far more successful than they had dared to hope! Over 1.6 million smokers had a quitting attempt, and at least 200,000 smokers DID QUIT as a direct result of the shocking pictures and stories featured in this unique national program. The Lancet published a wonderful article this week summarizing all the findings: Effect of the First Federally Funded U.S. Antismoking National Media Campaign.

I have always maintained that stories are more powerful than statistics. Sure enough, this campaign is chock-full of stories from former smokers- people sharing extremely painful negative consequences from their nicotine addiction. Virtually every complication from smoking is shared: heart surgery scars, asthma, artificial limbs (from damage to blood vessels), artificial voice boxes (from throat cancer), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and of course, lung cancer, to name a few. Hearing from Terrie- a former cheerleader, points out the dangers of "social smoking" in college. Likewise with Michael, who smoked in the military. Click on the TIPS from Former Smokers 2013 to hear and see more...and share with any of your friends or family or co-workers who still smoke.

The campaign goals are to increase public awareness of both immediate and long term health risks of smoking- both first-hand, and from inhaling second-hand smoke. Note that for every person who dies from smoking, 20 more Americans are LIVING with a smoking-related illness. The CDC wants to encourage and support smokers who are ready to quit, as well as encourage them to limit other people's exposure to their second-hand smoke. 

So that was the good news...now the bad. Just last week, Notes from the Field: Electronic Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students- United States, 2011-2012 was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. E-cigarettes are not a new cell phone app, they are true electronic cigarettes that are battery powered and deliver nicotine and other byproducts via an aerosol. Worse yet, they can add sweet "childhood" flavors- fruit, mint or chocolate. Really??? Does the industry have NO conscience???? Not surprisingly, they are portrayed as "safe smoking" (anyone else reminded of "safe sex" campaigns?) and teens are jumping on board. E-cig use doubled in this time period, yielding nearly 2 million (1.78, lest I exaggerate) students trying out nicotine in this delivery system last year. Please note that although we do not yet have long-term studies on the "pure" damage of these e-cigarettes, we know that nicotine is damaging to adolescent brain development and, hello- nicotine is ADDICTIVE. If you get addicted via e-cigs vs. dipping vs. "regular" cigarettes- the outcome is the SAME. You are ADDICTED to NICOTINE.

BOTTOM LINE: There is still NO AMOUNT of smoking that is GOOD for you, so please, help encourage your friends who are already smoking to QUIT, and parents, please warn your kids that e-cigarettes are NOT SAFE. NICOTINE is ADDICTIVE in ANY FORM.

Texting Can Save Lives?

http://t.cdc.gov/ecards/message.aspx?cardid=573&category=157

Following up on yesterday's Great American Smokeout..., an interesting study was published this year looking at the effectiveness of TEXTING support to help people quit smoking. This was an analysis of several other studies, including over 9000 total participants. Text messages were used either exclusively or as a supplemental part of smoking cessation programs. Although the results were not fully consistent between the individual studies, ultimately the data is encouraging to support use of this ever-present appendage to aid people in quitting smoking.

In fact, the National Cancer Institute has a texting support program for smokers wanting to quit. Smokefree TXT is designed to be a 24/7 support system offering advice, encouragement and tips for tobacco users trying to kick their habit.

More and more, we are finding ways to use technology to help our health. This picture above is from the free e-card collection at the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Use the link above to check out the wide range of health reminders that you can share with your friends and family! Everything from flu shot reminders, to cancer screenings (think mammograms, pap tests and colonoscopies) to yes, quitting smoking.

BOTTOM LINE: Every bit of contact and support that we can give our friends to help them quit smoking is worthwhile- even texting!

Great American Smokeout!

TODAY, the third Thursday in November, is the annual GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Each year, smokers are encouraged to use this day as a QUIT date, or at least as a day to make a plan to quit. If you have a friend who still smokes, please reach out to them today and kindly encourage them with a reminder that today is a special day earmarked for their health. With this vice, there is NO amount that can be justified as being "good" for you.  Tobacco harms virtually every organ in the body. Everyone knows about the cause and effect of smoking and lung cancer, but cigarettes also greatly increase the risk of developing cancers of the bladder, kidney, pancreas, esophagus, throat, mouth, pancreas, stomach, ovaries, cervix and colon. Smoking directly increases your risk of heart disease- both heart attacks and strokes. Obviously it damages the lungs, causing chronic conditions with increasing shortness of breath and lack of energy.
Finally, appealing to your vanity (hey, whatever it takes!)- tobacco stains your teeth and gives you bad breath. And guys, smoking can lead to erectile dysfunction that evenViagra cannot "cure"...enough said.

Tobacco is one of the strongest addictions, and therefore often the most difficult to quit- if you are a smoker, I don't have to tell you that! The good news is that we have more ways to support you as you quit, and even if you have smoked for many years, quitting now still yields many benefits for your health! Blood pressure and carbon monoxide levels improve the first DAY you quit. In a couple months, both your circulation and lung function start to improve. In just one year after quitting, you will have cut in half your excess risk of heart disease compared to people still smoking. In a decade, your risk from dying of lung cancer falls to half that of a current smoker.

BOTTOM LINE: If you smoke- even "socially"- the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR HEALTH IS TO QUIT SMOKING!!! Talk to your doctor and make a plan TODAY.

Quitting Smoking- Set Up for SUCCESS!

The Surgeon General's report on smoking in young adults has spurred me to blog sequentially about quitting smoking. Yesterday, I talked about "7 Ways to leave your Cigarettes" Talking with your doctor is a great first step, but don't underestimate how important setting yourself up for success can be! Include as many of your friends and family in on your plan- the more, the better! Including one teenage child counts double, by the way- they are usually the toughest on their parents! What can you do?

1. PUBLICIZE your QUIT DATE. Believe me, your friends & family will love to ask you how you are doing and lavish praise on you- but they have to KNOW about it!

2. Stock up on healthy, crunchy, orally-gratifying snacks. Carrots, apples, popcorn, pretzels- all are good choices.

3. Super-sour hard candy- sucking on these (instead of nicotine) seems to really help curb cigarette cravings.

4. CLEAN- your house, your CAR, and your clothes- splurge on someone else to come in and deep clean. Your sense of smell heightens along with your taste buds when you quit smoking, and the positive feedback from the clean, fresh smells are a wonderful reinforcement.

5. MONEY- a clear jar works great to show off money growing daily! Place the money you would have spent on packs of cigarettes into the jar each day, and decide what "splurge" you will reward yourself with each month!

BOTTOM LINE: Just as SMOKING is usually a social activity, QUITTING SMOKING will be far more successful if you involve your friends & family, so set yourself up for SUCCESS!

7 Ways to Leave Your Cigarettes

SEVEN seems to be the magic number for habits of successful people, right? SO...smokers, step on up to the SEVEN choices to help with QUITTING SMOKING! QUITTING SMOKING is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health. In alphabetical order, here they are:

1. Bupropion SR (Wellbutrin SR)- this is an antidepressant that works via unknown mechanisms to decrease your desire for smoking; you start it a week or two before your quit date, and it significantly shuts down that craving for a cigarette.
Common side effects- insomnia and dry mouth.
2. NIcotine gum- do NOT chomp it like regular gum! It's chew, chew, stash it.
3. Nicotine inhaler- used every hour or two during the day; may cause throat/mouth irritation and cough
4. Nicotine nasal spray- 2-4 sprays per waking hour as needed; may cause local irritation in nose and throat
5. Nicotine patch (now OTC, but ask your doctor which dose)- may cause skin irritation; remove at night so no sleep issues
6. Nicotine lozenge- may cause mouth soreness and nausea
7. Varenicline (Zyban)- blocks nicotinic receptors and sharply decreases cravings; Common side effects: very vivid dreams and nausea.

Are they expensive? Puh-lease! Are cigarettes expensive? YES! These aids are money well spent, and will pretty much equal what you are already spending on your habit.

BOTTOM LINE: If you think you've tried everything to quit, double check the list and head to your doctor for a new cessation aid!