Use Ramadan as opportunity to quit smoking: HMC expert

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Center is encouraging tobacco smokers to use Ramadan as an opportunity to quit smoking and to focus on living a healthier lifestyle.
Tobacco Control Center head Dr Ahmad al-Mulla said every year during Ramadan, the smoking cessation clinic receives hundreds of new patients seeking help to quit smoking. He says quitting smoking has a number of health benefits, including better insulin reception (especially in diabetics) and improved blood circulation, heart, lung and circulatory health. He said stopping smoking has also been shown to decrease cholesterol levels.
“During Ramadan, the number of smokers who visit us with an intention to quit is higher than during other periods of the year because fasting, and the holy month in general, is an ideal time for smokers to be more thoughtful about their health and the impact lifestyle choices have on their well-being,” he said.
Dr al-Mulla said the Smoking Cessation Clinic provides patients with the tools and support needed to replace their nicotine consumption habit and to cope with withdrawal symptoms. He says nicotine, which is one of the substances in tobacco products, is highly addictive and  noted that cigarette smoke contains more than 70 cancer-causing chemicals.
“Cigarette smoke contains thousands of poisonous chemicals, 70 of those being known causes of cancer. Carbon monoxide is just one of many hazardous chemicals in cigarette smoke and this colourless, odourless gas replaces oxygen in the blood and can cause shortness of breath and dizziness. Additionally, tar inhaled during smoking can cause lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease. Smoking is a major threat to the health of a smoker and to the people around them who are exposed to second-hand smoke,” said Dr al-Mulla.
Research suggests the most effective way to quit smoking is to make small changes to your lifestyle that can help one resist the temptation. Dr al-Mulla says embracing healthy habits that can act as a distraction and making a list of reasons to quit can also be effective. He also recommends avoiding shisha cafes and other places frequented by smokers.
“Exercising, performing the Taraweeh prayer, drinking plenty of water during non-fasting hours and spending time socialising with friends and family members who do not smoke can help decrease the urge to smoke,” he said.
Dr al-Mulla advised those trying to quit smoking to avoid inhaling second-hand smoke, which could be as dangerous as smoking itself. Second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and exposure to second-hand smoke is thought to cause thousands of deaths each year.
“There is no acceptable level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome,” said Dr al-Mulla.
The Ministry of Public Health, HMC and the Primary Health Care Corporation “wish to remind members of the public about the Ramadan Health website and companion smartphone and tablet app”, according to a press statement.
The Ramadan Health website is Qatar’s first online resource devoted to health and wellness during the holy month. One can visit the Ramadan Health website at www.hamad.qa/ramadanhealth or download the app to one’s phone or tablet by searching for ‘Qatar Health’ (available for iOS and Android).