Cigarettes not only seriously affect the health of smokers but also pose a direct threat to relatives and passive victims of cigarette smoke.
However, the story of "difficulty in handling" is still a familiar excuse for many people.
However, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Nhu Vinh - Head of the Department of Respiratory Funds Investigation, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital said that quitting smoking is completely possible if the smoker is determined and properly supported.
According to Dr. Nguyen Nhu Vinh, each cigarette contains more than 4,000 toxins, including nicotine - the culprit that makes smokers addicted.
These toxins are the direct cause of many dangerous diseases, typically lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, stomach, bladder, etc.
Smokers are also at high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - making them short of breath and requiring lifelong treatment. Cigarettes also contribute to atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack.
Dr. Vinh analyzes: Smokers can be addicted to two levels - habit and nicotine. People who are addicted to behavior often associate smoking with a specific activity such as drinking coffee and drinking tea after meals. For this group, changing your living habits is an effective way to get rid of them.
In cases of nicotine addiction, it is more complicated, because when stopping the drug, the body will react strongly to symptoms such as burping, irritability, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and even high blood pressure.
At this time, modern medicine can support nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, candy or inhalers, helping to relieve symptoms in the early stages of drug withdrawal.
The important thing, according to the doctor, is that these methods use pure nicotine, low dosage and not accompanied by thousands of toxic impurities like in cigarettes.
This process has a clear roadmap: starting with an adjusted dose to reduce discomfort, then gradually decreasing until completely stopped.
One of the major barriers that has caused many people to "fall off the horse" after a period of successful retirement is subjectivity.
"Some people were confident that they had quit, so when friends invited them to smoke a cigarette, they thought it was harmless. But in reality, just one try more time, that person can become addicted again, even smoke more than before," the doctor warned.
He emphasized that to prevent relapse, people who have stopped smoking need to maintain consistency for at least 6 months, which is considered the limit for the relapse rate to decrease sharply.
Sharings from Dr. Nguyen Nhu Vinh show that smoking is a completely curable disease. What is needed is a correct awareness of the level of danger, readiness for change, and most importantly, determination.
Quitting medicine is not only a way to protect your health but also a responsible act towards your family.
