It’s Time to Quit Smoking

A Gynecology Specialists note: Below is an excellent article by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists we thought you might find helpful. Since 2004, our GYN doctors have helped women improve their health. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our GYN Clinic at (757) 312-8221.

What are the dangers of smoking?

Smoking is a leading cause of death in women. Lung cancer causes more deaths in women than any other type of cancer, including breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Another smoking-related disease, heart disease, is currently the number one killer of women in the United States. Death occurs earlier in women who smoke: on average, female smokers die 12 years earlier than female nonsmokers.

How does smoking affect the body?

With each puff of a cigarette, your body is exposed to more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds of these chemicals are toxic. About 70 are carcinogens. The chemicals in cigarette smoke move from your lungs to your blood. The blood in your arteries carries these chemicals to every organ in your body. When you smoke, it damages your body right away. Smoking even one cigarette is not safe.

Can smoking affect my appearance?

Smoking can make you look and feel older. Smokers tend to develop wrinkles earlier than nonsmokers. A smoker’s teeth, fingers, and nails may be stained from tobacco smoke. Because smoking depletes the body of oxygen, a smoker’s skin may appear pale or gray. Smokers tire easily and are not able to be as physically active as nonsmokers.

How is secondhand smoke harmful?

People who are around smokers may develop health problems from being exposed to secondhand smoke. In children, secondhand smoke has been linked to asthma, lung infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and middle ear infections. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

What are some reasons to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and your family’s health. Additional reasons to quit include:

• You will look better and have more energy.
• Tobacco stains will fade from your teeth, nails, and hands.
• You will have more money in your pocket.
• You will be free from having to find a place to smoke.
• The smell of cigarettes will fade from your clothes, car, and home.
• You will set a good example for your children and others.

How do I begin to quit smoking?

• Decide that you want to quit. Avoid thinking about how hard it might be. Instead, imagine your life free of cigarettes.
• Find a support group. People who get support from others online, on the phone, with a counselor, or in groups have a better chance of success.
• Focus on your reasons for quitting — to improve your health, protect your family, or save money.
• Tell your family and friends that you plan to stop smoking. Get their support. It may help to have a friend quit with you.
• Find out about products that are available to help you quit smoking.
• Know what to expect when you quit. Know what your “triggers” to smoke are and think about the ways you will deal with these triggers when you no longer smoke.
• Set a target date for quitting that is in the near future — a few days or weeks — and mark it on your calendar.
• Tell your health care provider that you are quitting smoking. Smoking is a physical addiction, and your provider can help you design a quit plan that has the best chance of working for you.

What withdrawal symptoms should I expect?

The first week after quitting is the hardest time. You may feel irritable, anxious, and hungry. You may have trouble sleeping, feel dizzy or drowsy, and have headaches. These withdrawal symptoms may begin within a few hours, peak in 2–3 days, and last up to a month.

What products and medications can help?

Nicotine replacement products release nicotine into your body without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. They help relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms while you get used to life without smoking, and are available as a special chewing gum, lozenge, skin patch, nasal spray, or inhaler. Some can be bought over the counter; others require a prescription. If you are pregnant, use these products only with the close supervision of your health care provider.

Bupropion is an antidepressant that helps reduce both the urge to smoke and withdrawal symptoms. It must be prescribed by your health care provider. Treatment begins 2 weeks before your quit date and usually lasts about 7–12 weeks. It can be used with nicotine replacement therapy.

Varenicline is another prescription drug that blocks the pleasant effects of nicotine on the brain, which can help break the addiction cycle. Treatment begins 1 week before your quit date and lasts 12 weeks.

Both bupropion and varenicline have been linked to depression, changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, and thoughts of suicide. If you experience changes in behavior or suicidal thoughts while taking either drug, stop taking the medication and report your symptoms to your health care provider.

Is it normal to feel depressed once I have quit smoking?

Quitting smoking can unmask undiagnosed depression. Many smokers are unaware that they have depression and that they are using nicotine as a self-treatment. Signs and symptoms of depression include feeling sad, lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy, and sleeping too much or having trouble falling asleep. If you think you have depression, contact your health care provider — there are treatments that can help you feel better. If you have thoughts of suicide, seek help right away.

Please contact our GYN Clinic at (757) 312-8221 if you have any questions.