Worldwide, approximately 6 million people die each year due to tobacco-related diseases. In our country, 23 percent of all deaths are due to tobacco-related diseases. Smoking, which harms every organ in our body, steals 23 years from women’s lives and 28 years from men’s lives.

Stating that if no precautions are taken in Turkey, deaths due to smoking will rise from 100 thousand to 240 thousand per year in 2030, Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Baykal Ertürk said, “In 2030, the number of deaths due to tobacco use in the world is expected to exceed 8 million. Cigarettes, which are made smokeable by putting chemicals into tobacco, is a poison that is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. “It is among the causes of 6 of the 10 deadliest diseases,” he said.

It is psychologically addicting as well as physically.

“The cause of cigarette addiction is nicotine. When nicotine is not taken, symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty in concentration, anxiety, and tendency to depression occur. Although these symptoms are very intense in the first week, they disappear over time. Those who quit should be supported with behavioral support and drug therapy. Smoking is psychological as well as physical addiction. It should not be forgotten that it is also addictive.The false sense of relaxation, repetitive cigarette burning and mouth-holding movements become a habit when drinking.Success in quitting requires determination.

Positive effects start at 20 minutes

The benefits begin to be seen in the first 20 minutes after quitting smoking. Heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. On the 1st day, toxic substances cannot be detected in the blood, in the 1st month the heart vessels reach their normal size. At the end of the first year, the risk of having a heart attack is doubled. Cancer risk is halved at 5 years. Within 10 years, this risk can decrease to a level similar to that of a person who has never smoked.

Smoking harms even the unborn baby Cigarette smoke also has harmful effects on children. 60% of children in our country are exposed to cigarette smoke. The harmful effects of smoking begin even before the child is born. The baby in the womb of the expectant mother who is exposed to smoke is also adversely affected. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 carcinogens containing different chemicals. The most important of this damage is in the lungs and other respiratory organs, where the child continues to develop after birth. Smoking is among the most important causes of asthma, which has become the most common chronic disease of childhood today.

Eliminate stimuli to quit Visual stimuli need to be eliminated first of all who are considering quitting smoking. Because when a person sees an environment suitable for smoking, smoking comes to mind. Reminder objects such as ashtrays, lighters, cigarette packs should be eliminated. The desire to drink tea, coffee and smoke after meals increases. In order to get through this period, it is necessary to spend time with different activities. For this, brushing teeth and drinking water is an effective method.

Don’t steal from your life! In our country, 23 percent of all deaths are due to tobacco-related diseases. Smoking, which harms every organ in our body, steals 23 years from women’s lives and 28 years from men’s lives. The tendency to quit smoking has been increasing in recent years. People also seek support as they struggle to quit smoking. Some people, who consider this search commercially, promise more than 90 percent success for quitting smoking.

Acupuncture-derived approaches and hypnosis used for this purpose do not have scientifically proven validity yet. Instead, medical treatment methods with proven effectiveness can be used. These methods are nicotine replacement and oral ingestion treatments using tape or gum. These methods show success in reducing the desire to smoke and preventing withdrawal symptoms.

On the other hand, the higher the addiction, the greater the need for drug treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to seek help from an expert.”

Private İstanbul Şafak Hospital