Smoking is hard to quit. Especially for people with smoking addiction who do not experience withdrawal symptoms, how can the frequency of smoking be reduced? Dr Akshat Malik, senior consultant, head and neck oncology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, says:
“The first step is to identify what prompts each cigarette. Smoking is often linked to specific situations such as tea or coffee, after meals, during work breaks, alcohol or stress. Delaying a cigarette, changing these routines and gradually increasing the gap between cigarettes can help reduce the frequency. However, cutting down should ideally be a step towards quitting completely, rather than the end goal,” he says.
Do herbal patches, chewing gums or similar products help?
Nicotine gums and patches can help manage cravings by providing nicotine without the harmful substances produced by burning tobacco. They can be useful for people trying to quit or reduce smoking. Herbal patches and similar products, however, do not have the same evidence behind them and should not be treated as substitutes for established cessation methods.
What about apps that promise to help reduce smoking?
Apps can be useful when they help people track how often they smoke, identify triggers, set targets and monitor their progress. They work best as a support tool rather than a standalone solution. If someone has repeatedly tried to quit without success, counselling or medicines may be more helpful than relying only on an app.
Is smoking simply about willpower, or is there something more involved?
Smoking is not simply a question of willpower. Nicotine affects the brain’s reward system and repeated use can lead to dependence. At the same time, smoking becomes tied to certain routines, emotions and situations. This is why a person may strongly want to quit but still find it difficult. Nicotine replacement, medicines and behavioural support can make quitting more manageable.
Beyond affecting the lungs, how does smoking affect the rest of the body?
Smoking affects blood vessels throughout the body, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and poor circulation in the legs. It also increases the risk of cancers involving the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder and pancreas, among others. It can affect fertility, bone health, oral health and wound healing as well. Importantly, these effects can develop even when a person has no obvious breathing or lung-related symptoms.