Today is World No Tobacco Day and this year’s theme is “Commit to Quit”. Quitting tobacco not only improves the overall health of the individual, but also cuts down the chances of developing various illnesses including cancer or a heart attack in future. While being dependent on tobacco, individuals have difficulty concentrating at work. Therefore, quitting tobacco also increases productivity and, as a result, leads to improved quality of life.
Emphasizing on how tobacco affects people mentally, Ms. Sumedha Bhattacharjee, Clinical Psychologist at Balco Medical Centre said, “Not only does tobacco affect the heart, lungs and many other organs of the body, but also affects our brain. Long term use of tobacco changes neural pathways and affects the level of neurotransmitters in our brain, like dopamine and serotonin which is very important for our nervous system to function adequately. It leads to addiction, which becomes chronic and often leads to relapse, where in spite of many efforts, people start using tobacco again and again even after they try to quit. Addiction is not only dangerous for our body but also it affects our families and society.”
Talking about how one can quit tobacco, Ms. Bhattacharjee said, “Since using tobacco for a long duration leads to addiction, it becomes very difficult for anyone to leave it on their own. Motivation alone does not always help in the long run. Consulting a healthcare professional is recommended as they can guide with medications and psychological support. It is very crucial to take the initial first step in deciding to quit tobacco. Decide on a specific date to leave tobacco, and the sooner, the better. It is important to decide on taking small and specific goals instead of a vague one. Be specific about the date and whether to leave it gradually or completely. Specific and realistic goals keep motivating us to achieve it. It is normal to feel guilty when we have tried and failed once. But with the help of an experienced professional, you can track your triggers and they can help you manage your triggers and urges. Self-help groups also can help individuals discuss about how to stay on track and thereby make quitting tobacco a relatively easier process.”
