home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK00456}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Method is Best to Quit Smoking?}
- $Subject{smoking tips Community Social lifestyle lifestyles behaviors
- self-help physically addicted smoke smoker smokers nicotine polacrilex
- Fagerstrom nicotine tolerance scale counseling behavior modification training
- rapid smoking technique nausea dizziness satiation hypnotism electroshock
- acupuncture cold-turkey dizzy}
- $Volume{Q-23}
- $Log{
- The Effects of Smoking*0007301.scf
- Indirect Problems Caused by Smoking*0007302.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- What Method is Best to Quit Smoking?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: With all the advice saying the same thing (including material in
- your column), I've decided to quit smoking. Now that the decision is made, I
- don't think I can take it cold-turkey. What method do you think is best and
- do you think I can manage it by myself?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: Different folks need different strokes, but self-help programs have a
- very low success rate, and I don't advise them. I prefer some more structured
- situation, with your physician or counselor to keep tabs on you and offer
- support, advice and suggestions if the going gets rough. If you are truly
- physically addicted to nicotine, then perhaps using a medication, nicotine
- polacrilex, may be the best route for you. Answering a few simple questions
- contained in the Fagerstrom nicotine tolerance scale will help your physician
- determine level of addiction. Using medication in a well designed program
- that includes counseling and behavior modification training will provide the
- best odds in your favor. There are two such techniques that may interest you.
- A rapid smoking technique requires that you inhale once every six seconds
- until you just don't want any more, frequently brings on all the unpleasant
- symptoms you first experienced when you started smoking, nausea, dizziness and
- general discomfort. When you begin to associate the smoking with all the bad
- effects, it may help you quit. Another technique, called satiation smoking,
- requires that you triple the number of cigarettes you normally smoke over a
- 20-45 minute period. Other techniques, such as hypnotism, electroshock and
- acupuncture do not show great effectiveness in controlled clinical trials,
- though I know of some individuals who credit their successful battle against
- nicotine to their use. Actually it is up to you, and with a little help from
- your friends, you can succeed.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-