Are You Ready to Quit? by Jessica Thomas, LMH Health, photos from LMH Health
The American Cancer Society states that smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, or about one in five. On top of this, more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. Some experts at LMH Health discuss how to quit smoking and the importance of smoking cessation. Dr. Krishna Rangarajan, a pulmonologist with Lawrence Pulmonary Specialists (LPS), says even if you feel fine now, the effects of smoking can last for up to 20 years, and symptoms of something more serious may not be present right now. If you want to help the future you avoid lung cancer, shortness of breath, needing oxygen or other cancers, the sooner you quit, the better, he says. “It is never too late to stop,” Rangarajan explains. “It is also important to note that smoking does not just mean cigarettes. Smoking electronic cigarettes and vaping are maybe just as bad for you. The nicotine levels are high, and e-cigarettes are highly addictive and hard to stop. Even if you are young and healthy, many diseases related to smoking like COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and lung cancer do not show up until years later.” If you are not experiencing shortness of breath, lung cancer can remain a big concern. Other diseases such as colon cancer, head and neck cancer, osteoporosis, increased pregnancy complications, heart disease and, of course, increased complications if you contract COVID-19 can happen as a result of smoking. Rangarajan says the best way to avoid this is to quit. “Deciding to take the step toward smoking cessation is often the first and most important step for someone to 12
make,” he adds. “Getting to that step is hard, and when you decide that, it is huge. Now, how you quit is different from person to person and up to you. Some are more successful saying ‘I am going to quit on that date,’ and they set a quit date. That is often a big first step. For some people, slowly reducing can work; but often, the last couple cigarettes are hard to eliminate. Quitting cold turkey is good for some, but overall, setting that quit date is the most important first step.” Rangarajan explains that quitting can take months or even years. It can be hard to throw away those last few cigarettes. If you have a hard day, that often is what someone turns to, but then it turns into two, three, then back to where they were before, and going back to old habits is more tempting than ever. “Some helpers like nicotine gum, patches, inhalers with nicotine and some medications can be beneficial for smoking cessation,” he says. “Not only that, but seeking counseling can also be beneficial. The combination of counseling and medication has been shown to lead to healthier results. There are free counseling programs through most states, as well. In Kansas, we have the Kansas Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or you can visit ksquit. org. We also have an incredible smoking-cessation class offered at LMH Health.” Some of the leading factors to quitting were, for some, to simply take the urge away and remove the cigarettes, Rangarajan says. For others, they may hold on to smoking for the social aspect. “Smoking can become extremely social for folks,” he says. “People will take smoke breaks together or have it with a meal or in their car. It becomes a part of their routine and their lifestyle. This is why having a class or a way to help
