Off the Couch... and Lose the Cigarettes!

Tobacco abuse is the single biggest cause of preventable illness in the U.S. today. 

The impact on our health system is enormous.  Individuals addicted to nicotine have powerful chemicals in the brain urging them to continue the habit.  It is an extremely difficult illness. 

Healthcare providers see the effects on the health of our patients every day.  Coughing, wheezing, struggling to breath, lung disease, heart disease, vascular disease, circulation problems, and strokes are a few of the results.

Pediatricians see children who are innocent victims of the poisoned air at home.

I symptahtize with the victims of this disease. Often this addiction begins at early age and is fueled by other personal issues or stresses in the life of the individual.

Now that I have said that, I would like smokers to understand something about your health care providers: We are not idiots; we know what smoking does to people. Please don't attempt to give us a false story about your smoking habit and its effects.

The three biggest lies from smokers:

1. "Doc, I must have bad asthma." 

Some individuals do in fact have asthma. But most people who have smoked for a while have obstructive lung disease or COPD. Don't expect us to think you're carrying the cigarettes in your pocket for a friend.

2. "I only smoke outside and never around the kids." 

If this were true, our back yards and streets would be full of people thorughout the day. And the smoke is in your hair and on you clothes to share with others wherever you go.

3. " I am cutting way down."  

If even some smokers were cutting down at the rate they tell their health care providers, we would have a lot less tobacco companies in business in the U.S.  And fewer patients with breathing problems in our hospitals.

The good news is there is help available for individuals who want to break the habit and take control of their health.  Health care providers want to help in this effort. We know addressing the problem now can keep you from visiting us in hosptital later. 

When you are ready, talk to your provider about the many options for smoking cessation. Start thinking about the reasons to smoke and the reasons to quit.  

Cessation classes and medications, such as Buproprion, can be effective.  Nictotine patches and gum can also be beneficial.  Sometimes a combination of two can be the answer.

Free support available: 1-800- QUIT- NOW- for free phone counseling and nicotine patches.  Also Baltimore County resources at 410-887-3828 for  free clases and medications . 

If you have tried before dont get discouraged.  It often takes multiple attempts to quit to  be successful long term.  It is worth the effort.

Think about this: Smokers can add an average of six years to their life if they stop in time.  That's not just blowing smoke....