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November 2006
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Quitting smoking: What really works?
After years of decline, adult smoking rates have suddenly hit a plateau. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that between 2004 and 2005, the number of adults lighting up held steady at about 45 million. According to researchers, one reason for the stall may be that tobacco companies have stepped up their marketing campaigns and price discounts. But a report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health suggests it may also be harder these days to quit: Since 1998, levels of the highly addictive drug nicotine have increased in cigarettes by an average of 10 percent. In some brands, levels have soared upward of 30 percent.

But despite new obstacles, with the right know-how you can boost your chances of successfully kicking the habit and prolonging your life. Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable premature death in the U.S., killing more than 400,000 people a year. Take the quiz below to see how well you separate fact from fiction.

Click for answers:


True or False
Quitting smoking can lead to weight gain.


True--but the increase is generally small. While not every smoker gains weight after quitting, research suggests that most will put on 6 to 8 pounds; a minority will put on 30 pounds or more. Smoking suppresses the appetite and speeds up metabolism, and when a smoker gives up the habit, metabolism returns to normal, usually resulting in some weight gain.

Using nicotine replacement methods or the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) can help reduce--but not eliminate--weight gain. Likewise, regular physical activity may help you avoid large gains. But if you're worried about extra pounds, quit smoking first, then focus on weight loss. Studies have found that it's too hard to deprive yourself of both food and cigarettes.

Keep in mind, though, that weight gain won't harm your health as much as continuing to smoke.
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True or False
  Instead of quitting, you can switch to low-tar
cigarettes to avoid certain health risks.


False. Choosing a cigarette with a lower tar rating won't reduce your risk of lung cancer from smoking, according to a 900,000-person study published in 2004. Over a six-year period, smokers who chose brands of cigarettes with very low tar (7 milligrams or less) or low tar (8 to 14 mg) had the same lung-cancer risk as those who smoked standard medium-tar (15 to 21 mg) brands.
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True or False
   Nicotine lip balms and lollipops are no different
from nicotine patches and gum.


False. The nicotine lollipops and lip balms often sold online have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. They haven't been tested to be sure they're safe--or that they even work. Approved nicotine replacement methods include gum, inhalers, lozenges, a nasal spray, and patches (you can buy the gum, lozenges, and patches from your drugstore, but your doctor must prescribe the other products for you), and research shows that they can help you quit if you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day. Talk to your doctor before using them if you've recently had a heart attack, have an unusual heart rhythm, or are pregnant.
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True or False
  True or false: Taking tranquilizers will help you kick the habit.


False. Though more research is needed, evidence suggests that anti-anxiety drugs, including benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), don't help people to quit smoking. And if you take them steadily for more than a month or so, you can become addicted. There is, however, good evidence that the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) does help. Data from controlled clinical trials have shown that treatment with bupropion produced significantly higher success rates after one year than a placebo. The only other nicotine-free drug approved for smoking cessation is varenicline (Chantix). Trials have found it to be more than twice as effective as a placebo and somewhat more effective than bupropion over nine months.
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True or False
  Acupuncture won't help you quit smoking.


True. Acupuncture, a type of alternative medicine in which needles are inserted into the skin to "unblock" energy paths, has been shown to effectively treat certain conditions. But evidence suggests that it does not help people to stop smoking.
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True or False
   If you don't quit on your first attempt, you may never quit at all.



False. Some people need a few tries before they can successfully quit--after all, the nicotine in cigarettes is very addictive. And remember that what may have worked for your friends or relatives may not work for you. While some people can stop smoking cold turkey, others may fare better using medication, going to counseling, or doing both.
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