 WEB EXTRA
Quit smoking as part of
Great American Smokeout
Health Minute: Q&A with
Dr. Harry Oken and
Stephen Gaeng, Ph.D.
The American Cancer Society will celebrate the 31st annual
Great American Smokeout on Nov. 15. This initiative encourages
smokers to embark on a personal plan to quit. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adult male
smokers lose an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers
lose 14.5 years of life because of smoking. The good news is
that people who quit smoking, regardless of age, live longer
than people who continue to smoke, the U.S. Surgeon General
said.
Click on topic below or scroll down to read more.
Q: How does smoking affect health?
A: Dr. Harry Oken — Smoking increases the risk for cancer,
heart disease, heart attack, stroke, lung disease and advances
aging. It also decreases lung function at double the rate.
If you're looking for one single thing to improve the
likelihood of you living longer, it's to stop smoking.
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Q: Is smoking an addiction?
A: Stephen Gaeng,
Ph.D. — Smoking
can be an emotional, mental and physical addiction. Addictions
usually start with a discomfort that a person relieves with
a behavior that solves the discomfort in the short run but
makes problems worse in the long run. Many smokers have difficulty
unhooking from the habit even though they realize the negative
consequences.
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Q: What mental and emotional factors make it hard to quit
smoking "cold turkey"?
A: Stephen
Gaeng, Ph.D. — People
experience various benefits from smoking, such as relaxation
and reduced stress. Smoking can also be associated with other
behaviors through habits, like smoking after eating, while
drinking or when taking a break at work. You have to be careful
when you take cigarettes away to address what is driving the
behavior and replace it with a new way to achieve the desired
result. The gratification from smoking must be replaced with
another activity, like reading, taking a walk or otherwise
relaxing.
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Q: What techniques can help a smoker successfully quit?
A: Stephen
Gaeng, Ph.D. — The smoker's personality
will often drive whether it will be more advantageous to abruptly
stop smoking or to wean from cigarettes. Some people find it
helpful to track when you smoke, why you smoked at that time
and how important that cigarette was. Then, the smoker can
gradually reduce smoking by eliminating the cigarette habits
that are easier to break first. Hypnosis can also be a tool
used in conjunction with other techniques. Some people respond
well to it. It helps change your thinking about smoking.
Get support from the people around
you so that they can help you be accountable and support you.
Also, work to reduce triggers and being around people who tempt
you to smoke. Smokers should also find ways to reduce stress
in their lives by exercising and enjoying relaxing activities.
Once a smoker has been successful
at quitting, abstinence is important. Smoking one cigarette
a week or month or smoking when you socialize can lead to an
escalation of the habit. It's not uncommon at all to
relapse. A lot of people quit smoking but then slip and have
a cigarette, especially when they encounter a period in life
when stress is higher than usual, such as bad economic times
or a break up. They think they've failed and return
to the old habits again. If you have one cigarette, you can
go back to the same strategies that were successful when you
first quit. It's about
a lifestyle change.
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Q: What over-the-counter and prescription aids can help smokers
quit?
A: Dr. Harry Oken — For a motivated person, over-the-counter
prescriptions such as Nicorette gum or patches work as nicotine
substitutions to quell the cravings. There are also several
prescription medications that can be helpful. Bupropion (Zyban,
Wellbutrin) was originally used as an antidepressant and improves
the likelihood of quitting smoking. It can also be used in
conjunction with gum or patches. Another prescription drug
is Varenicline (Chantix), which works at a particular site
in the brain and decreases satisfaction from smoking. It can
leave a bad taste in your mouth or make you sick to your stomach
if you smoke. It is usually used for two to six weeks while
patients are detoxing from nicotine. Be sure to discuss the
benefits, side effects and recommended doses of these drugs
with your doctor.
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 About Dr. Harry Oken
Columbia Association's Medical Director Dr. Harry Oken
is a clinical professor of medicine at University of Maryland
School of Medicine. He earned a BS from University of Maryland
(1976); MS in parasitology from University of Maryland (1978);
and MD., cum laude, from University of Maryland School of Medicine
(1983). He completed a residency and internship in internal
medicine at University of Maryland/Baltimore Veterans Administration
hospitals from 1984-86. He served as chief resident in Internal
Medicine at the University of Maryland (1986-87). He is board
certified in internal medicine and is a fellow of American
College of Physicians. He served as chairman of medicine at
Howard County General Hospital for many years.
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 About Stephen Gaeng, Ph.D.
Stephen J. Gaeng, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private
practice at Crossroads Psychological Associates in Columbia.
He earned a Bachelor of Science from Towson University, a
Master of Arts in community/clinical psychology from The
University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Doctorate in
human development from University of Maryland, College Park.
His post-doctoral fellowship was attained in clinical psychology
at Taylor Manor Hospital. He is a member of the American
Psychological Association, the Maryland Psychological Association
and Columbia AssociationÕs Medical Advisory Board.
Have a health question?
E-mail your medical questions to CAmonthly@ColumbiaAssociation.com. Please
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