Calling all smokers on May 31, World No Tobacco Day, Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Tevfik Özlü said, “If you want to quit smoking, you can. There is no one who cannot quit smoking, there may be people who believe that they cannot quit. According to the results of the research, one million people died in France in one year (2016-2017) and one million people in the first 6 months of 2020 in England. “It has been understood that millions of people have quit smoking,” he said.
“BEING WILLING IS THE FIRST STEP”
Prof. continued his words by saying, “It is unfair to yourself to think that you cannot do a job that millions of people can do.” Dr. Özlü said, “To quit smoking, you must first have the desire to quit. Being willing is the first step and is very important. Then you must decide to quit. Being determined will be your greatest strength in the process of quitting smoking. If you have strong reasons why you need to quit smoking, you should think about them one by one and during the quitting process “You should keep it in mind. You should also keep in mind what you will lose if you continue smoking. You can even write them down and hang them in a place where you will see them every day, or give them a sound alert on your phone,” he said.
“YOU MAY NEED PHYSICIAN SUPPORT”
Underlining that people may need medical support to quit smoking, Prof. Dr. Özlü said, “People’s smoking behavior may be different from each other. For example, some smoke when they are stressed, some smoke when they are happy. Some smoke after eating, some on an empty stomach when they wake up in the morning. Some smoke when they are alone, and some smoke when they socialize. There is a cigarette that suits your smoking profile.” “You can make quit planning together with a physician who is trained and experienced in this regard,” he said.
“YOU WILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES FOR 15 DAYS, BUT 15 YEARS WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR LIFE”
Referring to the difficulties of quitting smoking, Prof. Dr. Özlü said, “Remember, when you quit smoking, you will have some difficulties for 15-20 days, but 15-20 years will be added to your life. Because cigarettes steal so many years from the life of those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day. After you get rid of cigarettes, do not be surprised and say ‘let me smoke one’. If after quitting smoking, If you suffer from nicotine withdrawal symptoms – irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, etc. and an excessive desire to smoke – remember, your doctor can recommend medical treatments if you want, if you say ‘I can’t do it on my own’, we doctors are ready to help you. He concluded his words by saying. (UAV)