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Lung Cancer Study Group

World No Tobacco Day

As part of World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated on May 31, the Lung Cancer Study Group (GECP) launches the campaign “one less cigarette is one more day”, which recalls the impact that the decision to Quitting smoking has you in the direction of a healthier life.

The habit of smoking, whether traditional tobacco, heated tobacco or electronic cigarettes, brings numerous harm to health, both in the short and long term. Tobacco is the biggest preventable cause of death in the world and, in Portugal alone, it is responsible for more than 13,000 deaths per year. On this World No Tobacco Day, GECP seeks to make the population aware, not only of the risks of smoking, but also of the health gains that come from smoking cessation.

The health benefits of quitting smoking are many and begin to be noticed immediately. After 20 minutes of not smoking, blood pressure and heart rate return to normal. After 8 hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop by half and oxygen levels rise. After 48 hours, taste and smell begin to improve.

In the long run, the health gains are even more significant. Quitting smoking not only reduces the risk of lung cancer, it also lowers the likelihood of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and the risk of stroke. Over time, lung function improves and coughing and shortness of breath decrease. After 10 years without smoking, the risk of developing lung cancer drops to 50%, while after 20 years the risk of lung cancer equals that of those who have never smoked. In addition, quality of life improves, people feel more energetic and willing to carry out daily activities.

For Dr. Daniel Coutinho, member of the GECP, “quitting smoking can be a challenge, but it is a worthwhile choice for personal well-being and the health of those around us”. Smoking is an addiction and therefore it can sometimes be difficult to stop. To help with this entire process, Dr. Daniel Coutinho strongly recommends dialogue between doctor and patient, noting that, “health professionals are aware of the difficulty of giving up this habit and are available to advise patients, either by prescribing medication to reduce the desire to smoke and abstinence symptoms, or through guidance on how to change behaviors and lifestyle in order to avoid relapses”, he comments.

As with any addiction, when you stop smoking you can experience withdrawal syndrome, caused by the lack of nicotine and which includes symptoms such as a strong desire to smoke, irritability, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite and insomnia. “Although these symptoms are stronger in the first 15 days, they get better afterwards, and nicotine replacement therapy can help control them”, explains the pulmonologist at C.H. from Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho.

Even in situations of a confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer it is recommended to stop smoking immediately. A patient who abandons this addiction has more chances of the treatment being successful, less side effects, either from surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and a faster recovery from treatments. In addition, giving up the habit of smoking also reduces the risk of the appearance of other cancers related to tobacco and improves the quality of life of the patient, making him feel less tired, with less coughing, expectoration and shortness of breath.

About lung cancer:

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Its incidence increases at a rate of 0.5% per year. In Portugal, around 5,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in 2020, representing the third most common neoplasm. It is, however, the main cause of death from cancer in the country, estimated to have caused 4,671 deaths in 2018.

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