Is It Time to Quit Smoking?

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States today. The Centers for Disease Control estimates in the US that smoking cigarettes is the cause of about 1 in 5 deaths every year. Approximately 12 out of every 100 US adults smoke cigarettes. Of those 28.3 million Americans who smoke, 16 million live with a smoking-related disease such as cancers, lung disease, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hip fractures, reproductive problems in women, erectile dysfunction in men, blindness, and cataracts. This abundance of illness and disability is due to cigarettes containing over 7,000 chemicals that cause diseases and cancers, not only in smokers but also in those exposed to second-hand smoke.

Why is it so difficult to quit smoking cigarettes?

Because of nicotine addiction.

Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is the main addictive drug in tobacco. When a person smokes a cigarette, the nicotine is rapidly absorbed in the brain and triggers the release of chemicals that makes the person feel good. This feeling of euphoria is often why people choose to smoke a cigarette to cope with stress or sadness or even to enhance feelings of happiness. Over time, nicotine changes how one's brain releases these chemicals on a routine basis, and eventually, the brain needs nicotine just for the smoker to feel "ok." This is nicotine dependence. Unfortunately, when a smoker tries to stop smoking, they may experience symptoms of anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration, difficulty sleeping, and cravings for cigarettes. These symptoms may last for a few weeks after smoking cessation and are due to withdrawal from nicotine. In combination with nicotine withdrawal symptoms, smokers may also have the act of smoking cigarettes in their daily routine. For example, smokers may smoke a cigarette after a meal, when talking with friends, during a work break, or when drinking coffee. So it is common for smokers to crave a cigarette during these times of the day that they have associated with the physical act of smoking.

When a smoker is motivated to quit, it may be difficult to know where to start and what plan to have in place to support the person during withdrawal symptoms. To further add to the confusion, there is not one recommended guideline or treatment option to assist smokers with smoking cessation. Just as every individual is different, their psychosocial stressors are different, and the chemical levels in their brain affected by nicotine differ. So, treatment options for one patient may not work for another.

Fortunately, there are multiple options to aid smokers when they are ready to quit, especially when "quitting cold turkey" is not ideal. In addition to counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, meditation, massage therapy, exercise, nicotine replacement, herbal medications, and prescription medications, smokers can also utilize acupuncture as a treatment option.

How does acupuncture aid with smoking cessation?

Two of the chemicals that are affected by nicotine in the brain are serotonin and dopamine. While smoking cigarettes, nicotine increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. During smoking cessation, the levels of serotonin and dopamine decrease causing withdrawal symptoms. Acupuncture application may increase serotonin and dopamine levels along with endorphin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the brain. Acupuncture is thought to help restore and rebalance the brain's chemical levels and help alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Additionally acupuncture reduces smokers' taste of tobacco and their desire to smoke, thereby diminishing the craving to smoke. "Because of these effects it is presumed that acupuncture application may be used as an important method for smoking cessation treatment."

SMOKING CESSATION AFTER ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT: International Journal of

Neuroscience: Vol 117, No 5 - Get Access (tandfonline.com)

CABIOGLU, M. T., ERGENE, N., & TAN, Ü. (2007). SMOKING CESSATION AFTER ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT. International Journal of Neuroscience, 117(5), 571–578. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450500535289

Are there any examples of studies done with acupuncture and smoking cessation?

The following link is an abstract to a study that was undertaken with 46 men and women who smoked cigarettes. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group received acupuncture that stimulated anti-smoking acupoints, and the control group received acupuncture that stimulated acupoints considered not to affect smoking cessation. The treatment group showed a greater reduction in the number of cigarettes, maintained a reduction in smoking, reported that cigarettes tasted worse than before the treatments, and also reported a decrease in the desire to smoke. "This study confirms that adequate acupuncture treatment may help motivated smokers to reduce their smoking, or even quit smoking completely, and the effect may last for at least 5 years."

Effect of Acupuncture on Smoking Cessation or Reduction: An 8-Month and 5-Year Follow-up

Study - ScienceDirect

He, D., Medbø, J. I., & Høstmark, A. T. (2001). Effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation or reduction: an 8-month and 5-year follow-up study. Preventive medicine, 33(5), 364–372. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2001.0901

Cigarette smoking kills smokers and those who inhale its smoke. It is important to understand that smoking cessation saves lives. It is possible to overcome nicotine addiction and to treat nicotine withdrawal symptoms to stop smoking. You and your loved one can stop smoking with the plan and support that is individualized for you. Reaching out to your healthcare provider to discuss your treatments options and plan is the next step.