Stop Smoking

Smoking cessation

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, every year killing more than 8 million people worldwide. More than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.¹

App. 9% of the norwegian population between 16 and 74 years old smoke daily. The split between women and men are quite equal. This amounts up to app. 400.000 norwegians. Additional says app. 8% that they smoke occationally. ²

The scale of the human and economic impact that tobacco imposes is preventable - in 2003, WHO Member States unanimously adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). “WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2019: Offer help to quit tobacco use” https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ is the seventh in a series of WHO reports that tracks the status of the tobacco epidemic and interventions to combat it.³

Smoking cessation is difficult: Patients are fighting both physical and psychological addiction

Nicotine addiction is a biochemical process that changes the structure and function of the brain ⁴. Quitting has both physical and psychological components ⁵. Physical withdrawal symptoms are the result of the body reacting to the absence of nicotine; psychological issues are the result of giving up the habit ⁵.

Physical addiction⁶
Nicotine activates receptors in the brain that cause the release of chemicals which cause the smoker to perceive pleasure and/or less anxiety and tension

The brain gets used to these chemicals and wants the release to occur throughout the day to reproduce these positive sensations all the time

Physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can start within a few hours of quitting, peak at about 2 to 3 days after quitting and may last up to several weeks⁵. Symptoms include⁷:

Anxiety

Hunger

Irritability

Depressed mood

Restlessness

Insomnia

Difficulty concentrating
Psychological addiction⁸
Smokers learn to associate smoking with certain behaviours involving people, places, activities and moods

These situational triggers can derail a quit attempt if quitters are not prepared

Understanding psychological withdrawal

Psychological withdrawal symptoms may be more difficult to overcome than physical symptoms. Triggers such as stress, being around other smokers or alcohol may result in intense cravings. As triggers may be unavoidable it is important to help quitters to understand how to handle them using distraction techniques such as changing drinks or chewing sugar free gum or avoiding places associated with triggers.
Benefits of quitting
There are many health benefits to be gained from smoking cessation

Physical health benefits⁹

In 9 months, lung capacity increases by up to 10%

In 2-12 weeks, blood circulation improves

Immune system improves

Improved fertility

Oral health benefits including reduced risk of developing gum disease

Reduced risk of heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis

Living for longer

Mental health benefits¹⁰

Lower stress levels

Reduced anxiety

Reduced feelings of depression

Increased quality of life

Improvement in feelings of positivity

Benefits akin to taking antidepressants for mental health sufferers