successful smoking cessation how naturopathic medicine can help you become smoke-free by andrea...
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Successful Smoking Cessation
How naturopathic medicine can help you become smoke-free
By Andrea Proulx, ND
Copyright 2010 Naturopathic Doctors Ontario
Up in Smoke: Fast Facts
• Nicotine is just one of over 4000 chemicals in your cigarette
• 50 of them cause cancer and are highly poisonous
• The average smoker dies 7-8 years earlier.• Smoking the STRESS response!
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The Health Stats
• Over 45,000 of total Canadian deaths are attributed to smoking
• Smoking increases the risk of multiple cancers and diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system and reproductive system
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The Social Stats
• In Canada, it is estimated that the societal costs attributable to smoking for 1993 were approximately $11 billion
• Where $3 billion was spent on direct health care costs such as hospitalization and physician time
• And $8 billion was due to lost productivity• In comparison, it is estimated that in 1993/94, revenue from
taxes on cigarettes totalled $2.6 billion• A Swedish study in 2007 found an increase in 10.7 sick-days
per smoker per year
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Health Impact of Smoking
• Increased risk of multiple cancers and…• Correlation with Graves’ disease• Risk of early menopause• Risk factor for cervical dysplagia• May depress immune function• Decreased sperm count• Increased bone density loss in females• Significant factor in depression
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Health Impacts of Smoking
DecreasesSperm countBone density
HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol)
Immune health
IncreasesStress response
Heart rateBlood pressure
Early menopauseDepression
Cluster headachesCervical dysplasiaCardiovascular risk
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Can I Quit?
• The average smoker tries 4-5 times to quit before they are successful
• Weight Gain? Most quitters gain less than 10 lbs• The best approach is a multi-faceted plan that’s
unique for your needs• YES. You can quit!
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Timeline to Quitting
• Within 20 minutes: your blood pressure drops, pulse returns to normal
• 8 hrs: carbon monoxide levels drop• 24 hrs: Chances of a heart attack decreases• 48 hrs: Ability to smell & taste increases• 72 hrs: Lung capacity increases
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What Nicotine Does to Your Body
• Smoke – with the nicotine and other toxins – starts at your mouth, enters your lungs then into your bloodstream
• From bloodstream to the brain and every cell in your body
• The Stress response is triggered:– Stress hormones are released to create that feeling of
alertness, one of addictive properties of smoking.– It increases the risk of stress-related health issues
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Nicotine Paradox• Nicotine is a stimulant• Smoking makes your heart beat faster, your breathing quicker,
and raises blood pressure (the stress response)• Acute psychosocial stress will increase your desire to smoke
• However, nicotine can also soothe.• Smoking may reduce the emotional discomfort of stress, relax
muscles and increase the pain threshold• This characteristic adds to the addictive nature of nicotine
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More Than Just Toxins
• Over 4000 toxins need to be removed from the blood stream and organs
• LDL-cholesterol carries these toxins and further injure the lining of arteries
• These chemicals cause platelet aggregation and elevated fibrinogen levels– Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
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More Than Just Toxins
• However the stimulatory effects of nicotine and the stress response are ever pervasive
• Over 80% of visits to MDs are for stress-related illness
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More Than Just Toxins
• The Stress Response– Increases the difficulty of losing weight– Contributes to insomnia– Decreases thyroid function– Affects estrogen and testosterone levels– Decreases bone density– Smoking decreases HDL-cholesterol (the good one)– And the list goes on!
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The Enemy’s Plan
• Nicotine reaches the brain in 10-15 seconds
• In response to continued presence of nicotine, brain cells grow many more neuroreceptors for nicotine
• Since nicotine levels are not regulated by the brain, craving can be very intense!
• It takes about 1 month for receptors to readjust
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How to Quit?
• A multi-faceted, individualized approach has the best results
• Set a specific date to quit, tell at least 10 friends.. Then DO IT!
• Success = DATE+ PLAN + TEAM
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Components of Your Plan
• You need to support the whole person
• Physical damage done by cigarette smoke• Physical effects of smoking cessation• Social aspect of habitual behaviour• Behavioural modifications• Address possible underlying mental-emotional
reasons for smoking
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How Natural Medicine Can Help
• Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are trained primary care physicians
• NDs will design a unique protocol to meet your needs
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How Natural Medicine Can Help
• Support the physical body– Detoxification from the accumulation of toxic
chemical– Deal with the physical side-effects of nicotine
withdrawal– Normalize the stress response– Ensure healthy nutrient status– Address any underlying health concerns
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How Natural Medicine Can Help
• Options your ND could use to support the body– Herbal medicine to support the detox pathways– Acupuncture to address cravings and addiction– Homeopathy for symptomatic help– Clinical Nutrition such as anti-oxidants to reverse
cellular damage
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How Natural Medicine Can Help
• Support the Mind– Addresses reasons for dependence– Learn appropriate stress coping mechanisms
• Build Your Support Group– Medical professionals– Friends, Family– Personal Trainer
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How Can Your ND Help?
• Step 1: Complete assessment– Assess Current Health Concerns & Risks– Blood Tests & Lab Work– Assess Nutrient Status– Relevant Physical Exam
• Step 2: Design an Individualized Protocol• Step 3: Support You Through the Process
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Your Success
• Build your support group• Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor about your
individualized medical plan• Take this opportunity to create a new
healthier you: diet changes and regular exercise
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Resources
• [INSERT YOUR CLINIC INFO HERE]• Naturopathic Doctors Ontario
www.ndontario.com• Smoker’s HelpLine: 1-877-513-5333
www.smokershelpline.ca• Health Canada: www.gosmokefree.ca• GoodLife: www.goodlifefitness.ca
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References• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. “Smoking Cessation readiness: Are your patients ready to
quit?”. Delinda Woody. June 2007;407-414.• Canadian Lung Association. www.lung.ca. Jan 2010.• CBC “In Depth”. The Cost of Smoking. 2007.• CCNM Clinician’s Package: Smoking Cessation. 2007• Chronic Disease in Canada. “Smoking attributable mortality and expected years of life lost in Canada 2002:
conclusions for prevention and policy”. Dolly Baliunas et al. 27:4;2007;154-162• Government of Ontario. Quit: You Have It In You. Jan 2010.• Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.com. Nicotine Dependence. 2010.• Oncology Times. “Smoking attributable mortality, years of potential life lost, and productivity losses”. B.
Adhikari. Jan 25, 2009.• Pizzorno. Textbook of Natural Medicine. Churchill Livingston Elsevier. 2006. 3rd ed.• Psychopharmacology. “Hormonal, cardiovascular, and subjective responses to acute stress in smokers”. E.
Childs.203:1;March 2009• Science Daily. Women Can Quit Smoking and Control Weight Gain. Nov 19, 2009.• The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Thomson Gale, 2005. Jacqueline L Longe. 2nd ed.• Tobacco Control. “Does smoking increase sick leave? Evidence using register data on Swedish workers”.
Peter Lundborg. 2007:16:114-118
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