Women Are More Difficult To Stop Smoking, This Is The Cause
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Smoking is a habit that is very difficult to stop. A new study shows that women are far more difficult to stop smoking than men.
Why is that? The researchers point to the higher prevalence of anxiety and depression in women, which might interfere with the best intentions to stop smoking. One expert notes that the evidence that women's brains react differently to nicotine.
In the latest study, which involved more than 200 patients at St. Hospital. Michael in Toronto, the prevalence of anxiety or depression was 41 percent in women while it was only 21 percent in men.
"Depression and other mood disorders need to be treated in women who smoke, especially those who suffer from heart disease and stroke," said study senior author Dr. Beth Abramson, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, was quoted as saying on the WebMD website on Tuesday (3/12/2019).
"Quitting smoking is the most significant risk factor that can be modified to prevent heart disease in women, but there is no one measure that is the same for all women," Abramson noted.
In the study, the average age of participants was 56 years, and almost one third were women. Patients reported smoking an average of 18 cigarettes every day for 37 years.
Two-thirds have lipid abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, where blood lipid levels (triglycerides and cholesterol) peak. Nearly two-thirds have high blood pressure, nearly half report heart disease, and more than a quarter experience depression or anxiety.
After six months, 58 (25 percent) participants stopped smoking, while 68 (29 percent) reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by more than half. The total number of clinic visits, the use of prescription drugs such as Chantix (varenicline) to treat smoking addiction, sex and the ability to pay for treatment, all affect the chances of success.
While using Chantix more than doubled the chances of success, women were roughly 50 percent less likely to quit smoking than men.
Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of death that can be prevented worldwide, but it accounts for 480,000 deaths each year in the United States alone.
About 12 percent of all American women aged 18 and above smoke tobacco, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"Although some studies have not seen differences between men and women in quitting smoking, other studies have shown that women's brains react differently to nicotine," said Patricia Folan, director at the Center for Tobacco Control at Northwell Health, in Great Neck, N.Y.
"Because of this difference, women might not be able to stop when using nicotine replacement products," Folan said, although they might succeed if they took Chantix or Wellbutrin (bupropion).
Folan added that some women have a fear of gaining weight after stopping smoking. That's why it's important to advise women that after quitting smoking, food may taste and smell better, and they might indeed gain a little weight.
"Eating healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables, and keeping the body hydrated with plenty of water will help avoid weight gain," Folan added.
Also, women will most likely have more energy and stamina to exercise when they stop smoking, which can help offset the potential for weight gain and help relieve stress. Women also tend to use cigarettes to deal with stress in their lives. So, combining treatment with behavior change can help women stop smoking.
Regards