QUESTION: With all the advice saying the same thing (including material in your column), I've decided to quit smoking.
Now that the decision is made, I don't think I can take it cold-turkey.
What method do you think is best and do you think I can manage it by myself?
ANSWER: Different folks need different strokes, but self-help programs have a very low success rate, and I don't advise them.
I prefer some more structured situation, with your physician or counselor to keep tabs on you and offer support, advice and suggestions if the going gets rough.
If you are truly physically addicted to nicotine, then perhaps using a medication, nicotine polacrilex, may be the best route for you.
Answering a few simple questions contained in the Fagerstrom nicotine tolerance scale will help your physician determine level of addiction.
Using medication in a well designed program that includes counseling and behavior modification training will provide the best odds in your favor.
There are two such techniques that may interest you. A rapid smoking technique requires that you inhale once every six seconds until you just don't want any more, frequently brings on all the unpleasant symptoms you first experienced when you started smoking, nausea, dizziness and general discomfort.
When you begin to associate the smoking with all the bad effects, it may help you quit.
Another technique, called satiation smoking, requires that you triple the number of cigarettes you normally smoke over a 20-45 minute period.
Other techniques, such as hypnotism, electroshock and acupuncture do not show great effectiveness in controlled clinical trials, though I know of some individuals who credit their successful battle against nicotine to their use.
Actually it is up to you, and with a little help from your friends, you can succeed.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
