“My mom has COPD. How can I help her stop smoking?”
My mother has COPD because she smoked for most of her life. Even though she can barely breathe, she is still picking up her cigarettes. Is there anything that I can do to make her stop? She's in her early 60s.
1 Answer
Hello, thank you for reaching out about this important aspect of healthcare for your mother. Nicotine from cigarettes is one of the most addictive substances known and can trigger incredible urges that are very difficult to curb even with extensive knowledge regarding their detrimental effects. Thankfully there are many various ways to combat these urges and treatment options to help people stop smoking. Personally I am not a proponent of Chantix (as the side effects can be severe and sometimes are more serious than smoking itself), however there is a medication that does have good results and when used with nicotine replacement therapy (such as patches or gum). This medication is called Zyban (another name is "Wellbutrin" or "Bupropion"). The correct way to ensure the most success is to utilize this along with complete cessation of all triggers and potential options to relapse. Basically get rid of all cigarettes, lighters, ash trays, or anything that may allow someone to want to smoke (i.e. alcohol). I also recommend my patients get set up with their local state's quit line in order to keep them accountable to someone during the process. Your primary care provider can offer more information regarding these resources and I hope that your mother can be successful in quitting smoking, especially if COPD has already been diagnosed. Beyond the lungs, smoking can cause many different negative changes in the body from cardiovascular disease to sleep disorders. Keep trying to stay positive when reinforcing that she stop smoking as this has been proven to be more beneficial than negative comments. Thanks again for your questions and take care.
Regards,
Dr. Maslonka
Regards,
Dr. Maslonka
