Qatar - Dr. Maya Al Sheba suggests cold-turkey method to quit smoking..

August 8, 2010 - Doha (Arabic: meaning "the big tree") is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar. Doha is Qatar's largest city, with over 80% of the nation's population residing in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, and is also the economic centre of the country. (Doha)

Dr Maya Al Sheba, from the anti-smoking department of the Supreme Council of Health, says studies suggest that a vast majority of smokers actually want to quit but very few manage to do it. An opinion poll held in the US in 2006 reveals that 75 percent of the smokers w ant to quit smoking but those who actually tried to give it up were very few.

Smokers must change their favourite brand of cigarettes and reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke a day to half if they wish to kick the habit, suggests an anti-smoking expert.

Al Sheba hinted in a press statement issued yesterday that such [a] bad addiction that the curtains in a smoker’s room, office, ashtrays and the car he drives must be cleaned to rid of smoke’s smell.

Physical exercise, sports and the company of friends who also intend to give up smoking can help in fighting the addiction. “The smoker should prefer to smoke alone and ask himself the reason for smoking cigarettes,” she said.

Dr Maya suggested that one must list five reasons to quit smoking and read it on a daily basis. A day without smoke should be specified and it is better to prefer the day off for it. On this day, the smoker should get rid of cigarette butts, lighters and ashtray with the help from family members and friends.

Better if he spends the off day in public places like libraries or cinema halls where smoking is not allowed.

Changing the daily routine and taking part in sports can help. Drinking at least eight cups of water daily is necessary so the body can get rid of nicotine, she said adding that chewing gums and mouth fresheners can be an effective substitute to smoking.

Supervisor of Anti-Tobacco Department of the Supreme Council of Health, Al Sheba warned that cigarette smoke contains nicotine. Smoking and tobacco chewing cause addiction. A smoker feels that he needs to smoke permanently to do his job normally.

Dr Maya added that nicotine reaches the brain in 10 minutes [seconds]. It affects the brain and the central nervous system. Moreover, there are 500 types of chemical substances in the cigarette and tobacco such as asphalt that harms the mouth, throat and lungs.

Reference: Kicking the habit: Some advice for smokers, The Peninsula Qatar, 8/8/2010

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