 | Robb Rose is Director of Marketing Operations at Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital of Wichita. Robb is also a Respiratory Therapist, Boarded Disability Analyst and Adjunct Faculty for Wichita Sate University. He holds a Masters in Human Resources from Webster University. Robb serves on the American Lung Association Regional Council and the American Heart Association Board of Directors. Robb is married and has 2 children. He can be reached at (316) 729-9999 |
Health & Rehabilitation
2004-04-01 08:49:00
Still smoking... can you believe it?
Question: My high school age child continues to smoke regardless of what I say. What are some of the specifics on smoking in this day and age?
ANSWER: Cigarette smoking continues to be the primary causative agent of "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" (i.e. COPD or emphysema), which obliterates lung tissue permanently. Smoking makes other conditions much worse and increases risk factors in individuals who have diabetes, cardiac conditions, high blood pressure, pregnancy, etc.. Risk factors for stroke and heart attack go up tremendously when a person smokes. As of 2001, approximately 23% of Americans still smoke. Smoking is a modern day epidemic that costs this country over $80 billion in direct medical consequences, and over $82 billion in loss of productivity. This is 8% of all annual health care expenditures. The sad thing about this is, it is preventable. Smoking overall is on the decline in this country, except in high school students, where there is a slight increase. This should alarm us all as nicotine is highly addictive and thus could have these teenagers hooked for some time. Second hand smoke kills over 36,000 people annually and is obviously preventable as well.The most important success factor for quitting the habit of smoking is that the smoker wants to quit, and has a support system in place. Behavioral interventions, counseling, effective medication programs, aversive therapy, acupuncture, and support groups are just a few of the primary proven ways to quit smoking. All quitters should be counseled as to "relevance, risk, rewards, roadblocks, and repetition" regarding the quitting process. Then when the smoker truly decides to quit, they should use the 5-step system of "ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange". This 5 "A's" and 5 "R's" program is advised by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). An ideal smoking cessation program is individualized and involves respiratory health care professionals. The patient will have to want to quit, and then be patient yet very persistent. The health consequences will be evident in the short term and long term. The cost of a pack of cigarettes is approximately $3.15, and a pack a day cost per year is $1,149.75. Interestingly the calculated aggregate cost of that same pack of cigarettes based on associated medical care that will be needed and loss of productivity is over $7.18 per pack. The cost of nicotine patches are at about $3.57 and stopping the habit looks pretty good for everyone.
