In this episode of Mano Charchae, RJ Padma Priya speaks with Dr. Divya Nallur and they discuss the treatment for smoking addiction.

“Those addicted to alcohol usually cannot quit in one go, but tobacco consumers can. But, only 2% addicts in a year can quit tobacco smoking on their own,” says Dr. Divya. Heavy smokers can try breaking their habits by fixing their goals on specific dates with strong personal emotional values, like their wedding date, the date of their child’s birthday, etc. If a smoker’s habit is attached to a particular time of the day, like after a meal, during tea time, or while in the washroom, then they can try quitting by formulating other things to do during those times.
One cigarette is reported to contain thousands of harmful chemicals aside from tobacco, so the effects of heavy smoking can be extensive. Nicotine gums and patches can be safe alternatives when trying to quit. “Many think that if they have been consuming tobacco for many years, then quitting will have no effect on their bodies. But the fact is that quitting smoking can change things in the body within a day. So, quitting smoking at the earliest is the best option.”

Listen in!