Six million cigarette smokers in Saudi Arabia spend SR12 billion each year and the number steadily grows, said Dr. Ashraf Abdul Gayoom Amir, consultant, Family Medicine and medical director at the International Medical Center. He warned that the size would likely increase to 10 million without proper education and counseling as to the bad effects of smoking. He noted though that with the individual willpower to stop smoking after knowing the damage smoking can do to the body, chances are high that addiction can finally be stopped. “The vast majority of smokers are in desperate need of aid and of medical support,” hence the role of doctors in supporting the desire (of smokers) to succeed is very important, Dr. Amir said. He recommended that doctor's effective advice could help 5 percent of smokers quit the habit, with the possibility of increasing the rate by adopting a full program for kicking the addiction. He further advised those who are motivated to stop smoking to use the safe and proven methods, like drugs such as Champix. Since its launch in end-2006, 12 million people in the US received Champix, Dr. Amir said.And the number keeps increasing, he added. However, he clarified that the lack of access to scientific and medical methods and important medical support may lead to changes in behavioral, psychological and social outlook of a smoker. Therefore only approved medicine prescribed by a doctor based on individual requirement of each case can be used. Dr. Amir admits that giving up smoking is no easy task. “The smoker is strongly associated with his daily behavior and it becomes very difficult for him to quit easily,” he said. Some individuals attempt to quit smoking cold turkey. This, in general, he said offers only temporary remedy. “In most cases, the smoker is back to his former smoking habit,” he pointed out. “The severe physiological state due to low blood nicotine level, accompanied by a series of painful physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms induce smokers to get back to smoking again,” he explained. He explained that smoking is hard to overcome since, psychologically, it gives the smoker a sense of provisional comfort and relaxation. Smokers feel that it is also a means of escape from anxiety, tension and depression. “Recent studies have confirmed that the smoker is increasing his passion for smoking when he is stressed and tensed, or has a sense of happiness and joy,” Dr. Amir said. The studies, as well as international organizations in anti-smoking recommend medical support to help quit smoking and to classify smoking as a chronic disease because the smoker would acquire acute health ailments such as asthma and lungs problems. “To quit smoking, therefore, it must start on the strength of self-will and seeking the assistance of professionals to get rid of the habit.” Abandoning smoking requires taking some critical decisions as to prevent smoking at home, in car, at work, and with the family members. “These ways are effective also as a prelude to a healthy environment and successful steps to quit smoking,” Dr. Amir noted. The person who successfully quits smoking will feel much better in different instances, with changes and even progress in sense of smell, absence of yellowish teeth, foul smell of the mouth, stench odor of clothes, better taste for food and drinks, and many others, he added.
