Don’t Resolve, Commit to Quit Smoking in 2011
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Dubai, UAE — on New Year’s day, many smokers will make a resolution and a plot to quit their habit, but few will succeed in staying quit. That’s because even though three out of four smokers want to quit, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, most will only do so with willpower alone, which results in less than a 5% success rate.1 2 a new regional campaign, launched by Pfizer in the UAE aims to help boost smokers’ willpower by offering guidance and resources to help them commit to quit.
Making a New Year’s resolution to break your nicotine habit and quit smoking is simple to plot, but can be hard to accomplish. But, making a firm commitment to quit can help you quit smoking for excellent. as the New Year approaches, it’s imperative that smokers committed to quitting equip themselves with the knowledge around the dangers of smoking, as well as tools and support structures to help them quit for excellent.
According to a large survey of smokers’ attitudes towards smoking and smoking cessation conducted in Africa and the Middle East, 65% of UAE smokers believe that willpower is all a person needs to quit successfully3. The survey, sponsored by Pfizer and conducted by IMS Health showed that the average smoker attempts to quit 3 – 4 times4, primarily using willpower. this shows that while willpower is an important factor for a smoker to make the decision to quit smoking, it alone is usually not enough to help them overcome tobacco’s addictive properties.
“As physicians, we recognize the role willpower plays in putting people on the path to quit smoking but it’s rarely enough to see them through to the end. Support from a qualified healthcare practitioner has been shown to play a pivotal role in helping smokers make a serious commitment and improve their chances of quitting smoking,” 5 clarifies Dr. Emad Kowatli,
Consultant of internal medicine and pulmonologist at the American Hospital in Dubai. “According to the WHO, studies show that even brief advice from healthcare professionals can increase tobacco abstinence rates up to 30%.”6 The nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive, often causing smokers to develop both a physical and psychological addiction.7 That is why many smokers, despite their best intentions, will likely be unsuccessful in overcoming the withdrawal symptoms and stopping smoking in the New Year. Even when smokers have broken free from their addiction, relapses are common.
“If you’re serious about quitting smoking for the New Year, don’t use willpower alone. Commitment to yourself and the commitment of your family and friends can give you the support you need to be successful in 2011. Visit your doctor to learn treatments that can significantly help your chances of success instead of using willpower alone,” says Dr. Kowatli.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, most of which are harmful to the human body.8 Committing to quit in 2011 and utilizing your doctor’s support alongside other available methods can help you decrease the main health dangers of smoking9. Quitting is an important health decision and consulting your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner before the end of the year can help make your resolution a reality.
Consider some of these tips when resolving to quit in 2010:
Recognize activities or places you’ve linked to smoking, and avoid them if possible. (i.e. If you smoke after meals, plot to take a small walk instead)
Prepare yourself for withdrawal effects, such as craving nicotine, irritability, anxiety, and increased appetite, and plot coping strategies. these effects mean that your body is adjusting to a lack of nicotine a sign of progress.
Plot a suitable exercise routine as per your doctor’s recommendation that fits your schedule. Minor weight-gain can occur for a few reasons: firstly, ex-smokers frequently seek oral substitutes, like food, to replace smoking. Secondly, nicotine suppresses appetite and increases metabolism; when quitting smoking, appetite increases temporarily, and the body’s metabolism slows slightly. Exercise will not only help in staying slim, but will distract you from smoking thoughts.
Seek support from family and friends. Remember, you are not alone. Quitting at the same time as a friend or co-worker might be helpful.
-Ends-About SUPPORT SUPPORT (Smoking: Understanding People’s Perceptions, Opinions and Reactions to Tobacco), sponsored by Pfizer and conducted by IMS is one of the largest surveys ever conducted in Africa and the Middle East to investigate the attitudes and behaviours of smokers towards smoking and smoking cessation. 1,422 smokers were surveyed in seven markets in the region including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and the UAE.
The Africa/Middle East SUPPORT Survey is part of a larger global survey conducted by Harris Interactive in 2006 of smokers from 10 countries including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, UK and US. SUPPORT was funded by Pfizer.
© Press Release 2010