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India is currently facing a ‘Tobacco Epidemic’. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010 more that 1/3rd of Indian Adults use Tobacco either as smokeless tobacco (26%) or as smokers (14%).
Tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the 8 leading causes of death. In India, 8-9 lakh people die every year due to tobacco related diseases like Heart Attack, Stroke, PVD causing Gangrene, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, and Cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancers).
Addiction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The impact of addiction on personal and professional life is substantial.
- Common Addictions
Alcohol, Tobacco (Nicotine), Illicit Drugs (Cannabis, Opium, Cocaine and Hallucinogens), Prescribed Medication (Benzodiazepines), Laxatives and Pain Medications. - Services Offered
We are endeavouring to provide outpatients de-addiction services. This is a multidisciplinary approach whereby patients may be referred from any specialty. There also exists reciprocity where patients will be referred for appropriate medical care to the concerned specialties. - Benefits
Leading an addiction-free lifestyle has numerous health benefits such as improved respiratory and cardiac function. It also allows you to feel more energetic and rebuild families and relationships.
Various Methods of Management
- Specialist Consultation to make a QUIT PLAN
- Counselling and/or Therapy
- Individually Tailored Medication Plans
‘Quit’ should be with a little help from stop smoking medicines. The first few weeks without smoking can be the hardest. This is when the body is fighting the physical addiction. This passes, but the person might find stop-smoking medicines helpful to get through these early stages. Once the physical cravings pass, it is much easier to stay on the course.
Increased Success
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) gives body the nicotine it craves without the toxic chemicals found in the cigarettes like cyanide or carbon monoxide, so it doesn’t cause cancer. NRT is available as patches, gums, lozenges, microtabs, inhalators and nasal sprays.
All of them are available on prescription, or to buy over-the-counter. A full course of treatment usually lasts 10-12 weeks. It is suitable for most adults, but if a person has a heart or circulatory condition, or is on regular medication, then he/she should get it checked from your doctor before starting the therapy. If a woman is pregnant, then she should also ask the doctor or
midwife before using NRT.
If one type does not work at first, then try another or try a combination. Using more than one NRT product can be very effective if the person has strong cravings.
Benefits of Quitting Tobacco
- Reduced clogged feeling in the lungs and relief from the nasty cough in the morning
- Reduced tired feeling and one can do more of the things he/she loves
- Reduced chances of getting lung cancer and the person can breathe more easily
- Reduced possibility of having a heart attack and one can exercise more comfortably
The Possible Prognosis
Quitting dramatically increases the chances of living a longer life. It takes just 20 minutes for the body to start healing once a person quits smoking, repairing the damage done by all those years smoking.
New Leaf Program
At Kokilaben Hospital, we have the ‘New Leaf Program’ which involves individualised treatment plans for patients taking into consideration:
- Medical Issues
- Motivational Interviewing to encourage patients to quit addiction
- Multi-disciplinary team approach with Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist and Rehabilitation Department as required