Dr. Nancy Snyderman: How To Quit Smoking in a Recession
Federal taxes on cigarettes went up months ago and now President Obama has signed legislation letting the FDA regulate tobacco. You'd think that smoking rates would fall. But there's a hitch: When times are tough, smokers tend to smoke more and put off their quit dates.We spoke to NBC News Medical Editor Nancy Snyderman, MD, to learn how to fight the urge to light up.
Q: Why do people smoke more when times are tough?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: When money is short, you'd think that people would stop wasting money on cigarettes. But under stress people smoke more. They eat more high-fat foods too. Part of it is the "What the heck?" phenomenon when you're under stress.
Q: How does smoking affect how you feel when you're stressed?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: Nicotine actually goes to the pleasure center of the brain, and also helps people focus better. You're wasting money, but you feel good. Unfortunately, when money is tight, you're also likely putting off the routine of going to the doctor --and that's where your doctor might spot something like early signs of cancer that could save your life.
Q: What's the best motivator to quit?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: One is a child begging a parent to quit: "Mommy, you make my asthma worse" or "Daddy, I want you to be there for my graduation." The other is a personal health scare, such as a heart attack, or cancer of the tongue. You put the cigarettes down, and then you can start to quit.
Q: Those motivations tend to lead to success?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman : Tobacco is phenomenally addictive. The average person fails 6, 7, 8 times before they're successful. When you quit, you'll still crave tobacco. But it can be conquered. What matters is the "stick-to-it" attitude when you fail. Often, when you do fail, you feel you're just not strong enough to do this. It's like dieting. But you've got to pick up and keep going, over and over again until you quit.
Q: Many women quit when they're pregnant but then start up again. Any advice for a mom who feels the urge to light up again?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: Many women do quit when they're pregnant and then relapse. Here's what I'd say: "If you want your child to have ear infections more often, develop asthma, have lower test scores, and have stunted growth, go ahead and keep smoking. But if you want your child to be healthy and do better in school, stay quit. After all, you've already stopped, gotten over the chemical addiction, so why not do it for the long haul?"
There are now phenomenal support groups, mothers' groups. You don't have to do it in a bubble. I'm a big believer in some kind of support group. If you're trying to quit smoking, your chances of success are much much higher.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman's Tips to Quit Smoking
Kick Butt: How to Quit Smoking Now
Bookmark Health Beat and follow us on Twitter
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: Nicotine actually goes to the pleasure center of the brain, and also helps people focus better. You're wasting money, but you feel good. Unfortunately, when money is tight, you're also likely putting off the routine of going to the doctor --and that's where your doctor might spot something like early signs of cancer that could save your life.
Q: What's the best motivator to quit?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: One is a child begging a parent to quit: "Mommy, you make my asthma worse" or "Daddy, I want you to be there for my graduation." The other is a personal health scare, such as a heart attack, or cancer of the tongue. You put the cigarettes down, and then you can start to quit.
Q: Those motivations tend to lead to success?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman : Tobacco is phenomenally addictive. The average person fails 6, 7, 8 times before they're successful. When you quit, you'll still crave tobacco. But it can be conquered. What matters is the "stick-to-it" attitude when you fail. Often, when you do fail, you feel you're just not strong enough to do this. It's like dieting. But you've got to pick up and keep going, over and over again until you quit.
Q: Many women quit when they're pregnant but then start up again. Any advice for a mom who feels the urge to light up again?
Dr. Nancy Snyderman: Many women do quit when they're pregnant and then relapse. Here's what I'd say: "If you want your child to have ear infections more often, develop asthma, have lower test scores, and have stunted growth, go ahead and keep smoking. But if you want your child to be healthy and do better in school, stay quit. After all, you've already stopped, gotten over the chemical addiction, so why not do it for the long haul?"
There are now phenomenal support groups, mothers' groups. You don't have to do it in a bubble. I'm a big believer in some kind of support group. If you're trying to quit smoking, your chances of success are much much higher.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman's Tips to Quit Smoking
Kick Butt: How to Quit Smoking Now
Bookmark Health Beat and follow us on Twitter
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When trying to motivate people to quit smoking, focusing on the health benefits is far more efficient that pointing fingers and trying to scare people to quit.
I feel people should be told the truth so they can make their own choices as above. Sometimes making decisions in difficult because it is a win - lose situation, as such let help the victim through counselling like situations