May 31st is World No Tobacco Day, and this year’s theme is “Tobacco Threatens the Environment”. Tobacco is known to be harmful to health. However, many smokers know that smoking is harmful, but still “suck it correctly”, and some smokers still cannot quit smoking even after suffering from smoking-related diseases. What is this for?
Tobacco dependence is a disease
It turns out, Tobacco is addictive. Nicotine contained in tobacco is the main addictive ingredient. Smokers generally do not smoke many cigarettes when they start smoking, nor do they smoke frequently. However, under the strong addictive effect of nicotine, with the prolongation of smoking time, the “smoking habit” is gradually developed, the amount and frequency of smoking of smokers will gradually increase, and the “smoking addiction” will increase. This “tobacco addiction” is medically a chronic addictive disorder called tobacco dependence.
Tobacco dependence is not only a behavioral habit, but also a chronic and fatal disease. A large body of research evidence shows that tobacco dependence is an important cause of persistent smoking in smokers. Academician Wang Chen’s team recently published a study in the sub-issue of the international authoritative medical journal “The Lancet”: 1 out of 2 smokers in my country suffers from tobacco dependence.
It is estimated that there are approximately 183.5 million smokers in the country suffering from tobacco dependence. At the same time, the study also found that non-addicted smokers were 2.88 times more likely to quit smoking than smokers with tobacco dependence.
What does tobacco dependence look like
So, how can a smoker tell if he is tobacco dependent?
According to the “Chinese Clinical Smoking Cessation Guidelines (2015 Edition)”, if you have experienced or exhibited At least 3 items, then tobacco dependence :
1. Strong craving for smoking;
2. Difficulty controlling smoking behavior;
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3. Withdrawal symptoms occur when smoking is stopped or reduced;
4. Tobacco tolerance appears Performance , i.e. you need to smoke more to get the smoking experience you used to get by smoking less;
5. Give up or reduce other activities and preferences for smoking;< /span>
6. Persist in smoking regardless of the dangers of smoking.
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Tobacco dependence can generally be divided into Physical and psychological symptoms.
Physical symptoms
Somatic symptoms appear after stopping or reducing smoking , smokers will develop a series of intolerable symptoms and signs, medically known as withdrawal symptoms, including smoking craving, anxiety, depression, restlessness, headache, increased salivary gland secretion, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, and decreased blood pressure Some ex-smokers also experience weight gain.
In general, withdrawal symptoms begin within a few hours of stopping smoking, are most intense within the first 14 days of quitting, and begin to subside after about a month , Some patients’ craving for smoking will last for more than 1 year.
● Psychological symptoms
Psychological symptoms, commonly known as “heart addiction”, manifested asSubjectively strong desire to smoke.
Tobacco addicts who experience withdrawal symptoms and then smoke again will experience satisfaction and euphoria, and their body and mind tend to relax and rest, which makes it more difficult to quit smoking. Many smokers know the dangers of smoking and are willing to quit smoking, but they cannot control their smoking behavior because of tobacco dependence. Some tobacco dependents still cannot quit smoking completely even after suffering from smoking-related diseases.
Tobacco Dependencewhat to do
The author appeals to smokers who suffer from tobacco dependence to establish the concept of “tobacco dependence is a disease that needs treatment”, and go to a professional smoking cessation clinic to quit smoking.
Smoking cessation clinics are an effective way and means of professional smoking cessation treatment for smokers. At least millions of people have successfully quit smoking through smoking cessation clinics.
When a smoker comes to a smoking cessation clinic, a smoking cessation doctor with professional skills will evaluate the patient in many aspects, including basic personal information, smoking status, tobacco consumption, etc. The degree of addiction, previous smoking cessation attempts, reasons and willingness to quit smoking, etc., and then according to the methods recommended by clinical smoking cessation guidelines, a personalized smoking cessation treatment plan is formulated according to individual circumstances. At the same time, the doctor will also regularly track and follow up the smoking cessation situation of the quitters, and help the quitters solve the problems encountered in the process of quitting smoking, etc., and effectively improve the quitting success rate of the quitters.
In addition, the smoking cessation clinic can perform exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) testing. By displaying the value of carbon monoxide in the exhaled breath of the smoker, the smoker can objectively recognize the harm of smoking . During the process of smoking cessation, the concentration of exhaled carbon monoxide decreases, which can enable patients to observe the health benefits of smoking cessation and enhance their determination to quit smoking.
People who currently smoke but have not been diagnosed with tobacco dependence are also advised to quit smoking. Smokers can try to quit smoking on their own, or they can choose to go to a professional smoking cessation clinic to seek the help of a professional smoking cessation doctor.
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With the continuous development of Internet technology, mobile smoking cessation came into being. my country’s mobile smoking cessation project mainly includes three parts: WeChat public account “Online Smoking Cessation”, WeChat applet “Online Smoking Cessation” and official website “Online Smoking Cessation Network”.
Smokers can sign up for smoking cessation through the above three methods and receive personalized smoking cessation help. If you have any questions, you can also call the national professional smoking cessation hotline 400-808-5531, and trained professionals will help you.
Expert review: Xiao Dan, an expert from the National Health Science Expert Database, the Department of Smoking Control and Respiratory Disease Prevention and Control of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital
Planning: Fang Tong
Editor: Mu Xinyu Guan Zhongyao
Proofreading : Ma Yang
Review: Xu Bingnan Yan Yan p>
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