Health news - Unplanned attempts to quit smoking more likely to succeed
7 February 2006 - written by Michael Paterson for Bupa's health information
Smokers who decide to quit on the spur of the moment are more likely to kick the habit than those who plan ahead, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.1
How was the study carried out?
Researchers spoke to 918 current smokers and 996 ex-smokers about their attempts to stop smoking. They were asked how many times they had tried to quit over the previous five years, and whether they had 'planned' to give up. Plans could mean anything from preparing to stop a few hours to a few months ahead. The most popular lengths of time for planning were a few days or a few weeks.1
What did the study show?
The study found that unplanned attempts to quit were more likely to succeed. Almost half of attempts involved no previous planning.1 Out of every 100 unplanned attempts to quit, 65 lasted for at least six months. However, over the same period, only 42 in 100 smokers who went through with a planned attempt, managed to quit for at least six months.1
Does this mean smokers should not carry on?
No. The researchers say that these findings should not stop smokers planning their attempts to give up. They point out that lots of other studies show that using nicotine-replacement therapy, or attending support groups, improve the chances of success - even though these methods generally require planning ahead.1 It is also possible that more smokers who give up on the spur of the moment have the mental strength to stay off cigarettes.
What did the researchers recommend?
They recommended a new look at ways of helping smokers quit. They said campaigns should try and get smokers to quit immediately rather than to make plans to stop. Nicotine patches and counselling should be more widely available. They should also be available more quickly to anyone who has made a snap decision to quit.
What are Britain's smoking habits?
The latest official figures on adult smoking are2:
- Out of every 100 men, 23 are smokers, 30 are ex-smokers and 47 say they never or occasionally smoke. The number of male smokers has been steadily dropping. It was 28 in every 100 in 1996.
- Out of every 100 women, 23 are smokers, 25 are ex-smokers and 52 say they never or occasionally smoke. The number of women smokers is also dropping. It was 28 in every 100 in 1996.
- Male smoking peaks between the ages of 25 and 34. One in three of them smoke in this age range.
- Men are heavier smokers. One in three male smokers get through more than 20 cigarettes a day. Among women it is one in five.
Why does smoking cause disease?
Cigarettes contain tar, a sticky black substance made up of thousands of chemicals. It stays in a smoker's lungs and can eventually cause cancer. Even low-tar cigarettes are harmful.
The carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke is itself poisonous in large quantities. During smoking, it enters the blood stream. It reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. This can cause breathing problems.
One of the major ingredients in cigarettes is nicotine. It is addictive and makes smokers want more cigarettes.3
Is it OK to smoke only a few cigarettes?
It is wrong to believe that 'light' smoking does not cause harm to your body. Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day almost triples the risk of dying from heart disease or lung cancer.4
How many people want to quit for good?
78 in 100 male smokers say they intend to give up in the next year. Of every 100 female smokers, 72 plan to quit.2 However, these figures are from annual Government reports and have run at similar levels for six years. This suggests that most plans are not turned into action.
How many do quit?
Official government figures for the year to March 2005 said 298,100 smokers quit and stayed off cigarettes to the four-week stage in treatment.5 This was out of 529,600 who set a date to quit.
Why do people start again?
When smokers were asked to give their main reason for starting again, 34 in 100 put it down to stress, 16 missed the habit or needed to do something with their hands, 15 said it was because they liked it and 14 said it was because their friends smoked.2
What makes it hard to stop?
Nicotine, found in cigarettes, is an addictive drug. When you quit smoking you will feel the effects of nicotine withdrawal. These effects can be unpleasant and may include:6
- temporary depression
- difficulty with sleeping
- irritability
- frustration or anger
- anxiety
- difficulty with concentration
- restlessness
- decreased heart rate
- dizziness
- increased appetite
How quick are the benefits of quitting smoking?
The good news is that the body starts to clear out the poisons from tobacco smoke immediately. In addition:6
- blood pressure and pulse will drop within an hour of stopping
- carbon monoxide levels will return to normal within two days
- li>sense of taste and smell will improve within two days
- blood circulation will improve within a few weeks
Bupa Information:
- Bupa factsheet: Stopping Smoking
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Stopping_smoking.html
Further information:
- Quit - the quit-smoking charity
Phone: 0800 002200
www.quit.org.uk - Giving Up Smoking - the NHS Stop-Smoking services website
Phone: 0800 169 0169
www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
References
- West R, Soha, T. "Catastrophic" pathways to smoking cessation: findings from national survey. British Medical Journal Online First 2006, doi:10.1136/bmj.38723.573866.AE.
- Lader D, Goddard E. Smoking related behaviour and attitudes, 2004. Office of National Statistics.
www.statistics.gov.uk - Smoking & Cancer - beat the addiction. Cancer Research leaflet.
www.cancerresearchuk.org - Bjartveit K, Tverdal A. Health Consequences of Smoking 1-4 cigarettes a day. Tobacco Control 2005: 14:315-320. doi: 10.1136/tc.2005.011932.
- Growing numbers of smokers quit the habit, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre release, 2005
www.ic.nhs.uk - Smoking (quitting). NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
All pages were accessed on 30 January 2006
