ABC News' Dr. Tim Answers Questions About Smoking
Nov. 7, 2005 — -- Question: I am 17-years old and have been smoking for a year and a half. I've been trying to quit cold turkey and was having trouble, so my friend told me to start smoking Djarum Blacks as a transition step between cigarettes and quitting. They are clove cigarettes. He says they contain almost no tobacco and are much better for you then regular cigarettes. Is this true?
-- Kevin L
Answer: No. Djarum Blacks are clove cigarettes, which contain both Indonesian tobacco and cloves. They do contain tobacco and therefore have all the health risks of smoking regular tobacco cigarettes. If you are having trouble quitting smoking cold turkey, a much better choice is to obtain an FDA-approved smoking cessation method such as nicotine gum, patch or lozenge (which are sold without prescription) or see a doctor about other options. I'd also suggest that you contact the national Quitline: 1-800-QUITNOW.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
Question: I am 8 weeks pregnant. Are there any quit smoking aids I could utilize?
-- Tamara Cammaranbo, Buffalo, NY
Answer: There are a number of studies that have looked at nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) for pregnant women. Although there is not yet an official "go ahead" to use NRTs during pregnancy, these studies tend to show no harmful consequences of NRT use by pregnant women.
NRTs do not deliver the numerous toxic agents delivered through smoking, such as those that cause or promote cancer and respiratory illness, which are actually those that account for the greater harm suffered through smoking.
The medications should be considered "aids" and not substitutes for motivation to stop smoking. Information regarding harmful consequences of smoking to the fetus should be a consistent aspect of pre-natal care. The further issue is to help the pregnant women seriously consider efforts to avoid a return to smoking after the baby is delivered. The benefit of stopping smoking is just as important during the neonatal period.
Source: Smoking Cessation Clinic at Columbia University Medical Center
Question: What is your opinion on 2 methods of helping you quit smoking that seem quite popular right now according to recent news reports and advertisements I heard recently?
The first is the "shot" treatment in which a doctor administers a shot of Atropine & Scopolamine behind your ears, followed by taking Belladonna Phenobarbatol 4 times/day for 2 weeks and wearing a scopolamine patch for 6 days.
The other is the use of a laser to the ear and wrists. There are 3 treatments consisting of the first day, then another 3 days later and then a 3rd a month later. I am very interested in your opinion on the effectiveness, side affects and any concerns you may have regarding the different medications used specifically with the "shot" method.
Are there any medications that can reduce the effectiveness of this treatment as well?
-- Mark, Tampa, Fl.
Answer: Despite claims such as those stated above, there is no good evidence, controlled (as in clinical trials) or uncontrolled regarding the usefulness of those "approaches".
Unfortunately there are many charlatans throughout the treatment field (not only for smoking) that make claims such as those. If somehow a person who receives those treatments is able to stop smoking, the effect is most likely because of the high level of motivation involved in the person's going for such unusual treatments.
Source: Smoking Cessation Clinic at Columbia University Medical Center
Question: I know you have to have the mindset to want to quit, and I am finally there after smoking 35 years now. Have you heard about the Laser Concepts to stop smoking? It indicates in 20 minutes you can become smoke free. Have you heard of many/or any success stories on this procedure?
-- Kim Price, Chicago
Answer: Despite claims like you'll be smoke free after 20 minutes, there is really no good evidence, controlled (as in clinical trials) or uncontrolled regarding the usefulness of this "treatment". No, despite my familiarity with the literature, I have not heard of many or any success stories on this procedure.
Source: Smoking Cessation Clinic at Columbia University Medical Center
Question: Dr. Johnson, I listened to you the other night on the news. You stated how the lungs recover at certain time intervals. Could you tell that again in my email?
Answer: That timeline comes from the American Cancer Society and the CDC.
If you go to the CDC Web site, you can get a free poster of the timeline, to remind you of your milestones as you try to quit.
Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.
20 minutes after quitting: Your blood pressure drops to a level close to that before the last cigarette. The temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.
8 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
24 hours after quitting: Your chance of a heart attack decreases.
2 days after quitting: Your sense of smell and taste improve.
3 -- 4 days after quitting: Your bronchial tubes relax and lung capacity increases, making breathing easier.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases up to 30%.
If you quit before pregnancy or during your first trimester: Your risk of giving birth to a low birth weight drops to normal.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
2 to 3 years after quitting: Bladder cancer risk is halved; Cervical cancer risk is reduced.
5 years after quitting: Your risk for cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.
5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decrease.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.
ALSO, compared to smokers, your …
Cancer of the larynx risk is reduced after quitting
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk of death is reduced after you quit
Ulcer risk drops after quitting
Peripheral artery disease goes down after quitting
The sooner you quit the more health benefits and life extensions you will realize.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE:
If you quit at age 35: Your life expectancy exceeds that of continuing smokers by 6.9 to 8.5 years for men and 6.1 to 7.7 years for women.
If you quit at age 55: Your life expectancy exceeds that of continuing smokers by 1.4 to 2.0 years for men and 2.7 to 3.7 years for women.
At any age: You realize the immediate health benefits detailed above.
Source: American Cancer Society, CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, American Lung Association