Smoking Prevention and Cessation
- It has been estimated that 30% of all cancer is linked to smoking and is preventable.
- Studies show that 60% of all current smokers began smoking by age 14 and that more than 3,000 children each day begin to use tobacco in the United States.
- Smoking is a risk factor for hypertension, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer of the lung, colon, larynx, oral cavity, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, and kidney. It also worsens such conditions as respiratory infections, peptic ulcers, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux.
- Not smoking promotes health by increasing exercise tolerance; enhancing taste bud function; and avoiding facial wrinkles and bad breath.
- Smoking prevention education should begin during childhood and stressed during adolescence, a time when peer modeling and confusion over self-image may lead to smoking.
- Smoking cessation can be accomplished through an individualized, multidimensional program that includes:
- Information on the short- and long-term health effects of smoking.
- Practical behavior modification techniques to help break the habit- gum chewing, snacking on carrot and celery sticks, sucking on mints and hard candy to provide oral stimulation; working modeling clay, knitting, or other ways to provide tactile stimulation; avoiding coffee shops, bars, or other situations that smokers frequent; delaying each cigarette and recording each cigarette in a log before it is smoked; and incentive plans such as saving money for each cigarette not smoked and rewarding oneself when a goal is reached.
- Use of medications designed to reduce physical dependence and minimize withdrawal symptoms, such as nicotine chewing gum, nasal spray, inhaler system, or transdermal patches as well as oral medication, namely bupropion, that acts on neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.
- Use of support groups, frequent reinforcement, and follow-up. Encourage additional attempts if relapse occurs.
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