You may find it difficult to quit smoking. However, it is certainly worthwhile. According to the CDC, over 16 million Americans have diseases caused by smoking. Smoking-related conditions include cancer, heart disease, respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and diabetes.
Quitting smoking can lower your risk for these ailments. But if you find quitting smoking cold turkey too difficult, you can get a doctor to help you.
What can my doctor do to help me quit smoking?
Your doctor can help you manage the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and help you curb your cravings for cigarettes. Here are the steps a doctor may take to help you quit smoking.
- A doctor can offer nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) options like patches, lozenges, or gum. These items are available without a prescription, but a doctor may be able to help you get them for free or through your health insurance. Some non-nicotine medications and nicotine nasal sprays require a prescription. Your doctor may prescribe these products if over-the-counter options do not work.
- A doctor can either provide support or connect you with specialists who can help with the mental aspect of quitting smoking. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include depression, increased anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, and the inability to concentrate. A doctor can offer counseling or provide additional medications to help you overcome these difficulties.
- A doctor can check for smoking-related illnesses so that you can receive early treatment or take preemptive steps to keep these conditions from developing.
NRT and non-nicotine medications can be effective, especially if a doctor helps you combine them with additional symptom management techniques.
How long does it take to quit smoking?
The timeframe for quitting smoking depends on how much you smoked and how many years you had the habit. For the average smoker, it takes three to five days for the nicotine to leave your system. The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are the worst during the first five days. For most people, the symptoms begin to abate after about two weeks. However, the mental connection with cigarettes could last longer, and the feelings of anxiety or depression could continue after the physical withdrawal symptoms subside.
How else can a doctor help?
You should always tell a doctor if you smoke because they will be able to help you quit and screen you for smoking-related ailments. You may have an elevated risk for certain diseases even after quitting. If the doctor can detect these illnesses early, you will have a better chance of a full recovery.
A doctor can also help you regain full lung functionality. Lungs cleanse themselves over time, but your doctor can suggest lifestyle changes, supplements, and therapies that can support the body’s natural efforts.
Does smoking make you gain weight?
A doctor can also help you manage weight gain, which is sometimes a side effect of quitting smoking. Exercise and diet can counteract weight gain and speed up the process of cleansing your lungs of tar and other byproducts of cigarettes.
How to get started quitting smoking
Different approaches to quitting smoking work for different people. The physicians at Matthews Internal Medicine realize this and can help you create a personalized plan that will give you the best chance for success. So, if you are ready to give up cigarettes, make an appointment with Matthews Internal Medicine to get the support you need.