How To Quit Smoking: Cancer doctor told 4 ways, even the biggest addict will quit smoking

The main active ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, which is highly addictive; it releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy – although this happiness is short-lived, leaving you craving the next cigarette.

Around 267 million people in India are affected by tobacco.
However, this conclusion has not been proven by larger studies, as about 267 million adults in India and about 1.3 billion people worldwide still use tobacco products. While the harmful effects of cancer are now widely known to people, the highly addictive nature of nicotine makes it very challenging to quit. It is consumed in many forms – cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars, snuff tobacco and more recently e-cigarettes or vapes. Tobacco contains countless carcinogens that can damage DNA and cause cancer.

Tobacco is the root cause of cancer
Dr. Anuja Abhyankar – Medical Oncologist, Sunrise Oncology Centre According to the , quitting tobacco is important to prevent cancer and improve cancer treatment outcomes. Tobacco contains several carcinogens that can alter DNA and cause cancer. While lung cancer was one of the earliest cancers found to be caused by smoking, the list of cancers associated with tobacco is endless as it is also linked to cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney and cervix. People often use smokeless tobacco considering it less harmful, but chewing and snuffing tobacco causes cancer of the mouth, esophagus and even pancreas.

Adverse effects on heart and lungs
Although e-cigarettes only contain the active ingredient nicotine and not tobacco, they are still harmful because they put a variety of chemicals into your lungs, causing inflammation that can be fatal in some cases. Tobacco use is also a major risk factor for many cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, some of which are caused by nicotine.

benefits of quitting cigarettes
The good news is that it's never too late to quit smoking. By quitting tobacco we can greatly reduce our chances of developing certain types of cancer. Quitting tobacco improves lung function and reduces the risk of heart disease, improving overall health and quality of life. Quitting tobacco also reduces the chance of cancer recurrence, which is important for cancer survivors.

the risk of cancer is halved
Within just 12 hours of quitting, carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal. The benefits continue to mount, as within 1 year your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. After 5 years of quitting, your risk of many types of cancer is half that of a smoker, and after 15 years, the risk is about as low as that of a never smoker.

4 ways to quit tobacco

1. To keep yourself accountable, set a date to quit smoking and tell your family and friends about it.
2. Throw away all cigarettes and tobacco products in your home so they are not easily accessible.
3. Smoking and chewing tobacco are common oral habits – try replacing these with quick-acting chews or chewing gum.
4. Put all the money you save from smoking in a jar and book a ticket for a trip abroad next year!

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.