(01-06-12) The Best Reason to Quit Smoking

by Richard Foxx, MD

When questioned, many smokers readily admit they would like to quit. They know
smoking is bad for their lungs. They know secondhand smoke is a hazard to their
family. And yet, many are unsuccessful in kicking the habit. There always seem
to be an elusive day in the future that will be the best day to go cold turkey.
For now, a few more cigarettes won't matter.

Here's some health news from researchers at the Department of Preventive
Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India: signs of oral cancer may be
the only motivation a smoker needs to quit.

The researchers surmised with simple logic that smoking cessation would
provide the most immediate benefits to prevent tobacco-related disease and
mortality. So they conducted a tobacco cessation program involving individual
and group behavior therapy. The quit-smoking program was implemented in three
stages at a worksite.

Tobacco quit rates were assessed at the end of each of the three stages. Out
of the 291 tobacco users identified, 224 participated in the tobacco cessation
interventions. At the end of three interventions, 38 users -- or 17% -- had
successfully quit tobacco use.

Of all the motivations offered as incentive to quit, the researchers found
that one in particular stood out: the presence of clinical oral pre-cancer
lesions. Tobacco users with signs of these pre-cancer lesions were around three
times more likely to quit than those with no lesions.

It's an unfortunate scenario of cancer acting as a motivating force to make
positive change. The researchers' health advice to smokers may very well be:
don't wait until you have cancer to quit.

Oral cancer, like most cancers, can be difficult to treat. It can be very
unpleasant to have lesions in the mouth. There are also possible complications
from radiation therapy, including dry mouth and difficulty swallowing,
disfigurement of the face, head, and neck after surgery, and, of course, the
spread of the cancer to other places.

If you're a smoker or know a smoker, take advantage of all the smoking-
cessation programs out there intended to help you kick the habit.

For more advice on quitting smoking, read the article Help Yourself Kick the
Smoking Habit.

Source: Pimple, S., et al., "Predictors of quitting tobacco -- results
of a worksite tobacco cessation service program among
factory workers in Mumbai, India," Asian Pac. J. Cancer
Prev., 2012; 13(2): 533-8.

News

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In evidenza

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Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.