Smoking is higher in people with mental illnesses

2023-05-30 22:00:18

• Cigars contain about 4,500 toxic substances, of which 68 are carcinogenic.
• The highest smoking rates are among people who are mentally ill, have a low level of education, and live below the poverty line.
• In Latin America they have identified that for any mental disorder the prevalence of smoking reaches 33%.

Smoking is classified as one of the most harmful habits in the world, although its prevalence could be associated with mental illness. In the same way, it cannot be overlooked that it is a quite dangerous addiction that generates a decrease in the quality of life and can even cause the death of the patient.

With this in mind, tobacco use is linked to a host of diseases that go beyond cancer. Cigarettes can cause serious conditions such as pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, or coronary heart disease.

In this regard, it is necessary to remember that the The main causative agent of lung cancer is tobacco. The reason is because it contains about 4,500 toxic substances. Of these, 68 are carcinogenic. For his part, he smoking is responsible for seven out of 10 deaths from this type of tumor.

Relationship between smoking and mental illness

However, the relationship between the consumption of tobacco or cigarettes in those people who suffer from a mental condition has been widely studied in recent decades. According to him National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) In the United States, people with mental illness smoke two to four times more than the general population.

Likewise, in Latin America they have identified that for any mental disorder the prevalence of smoking reaches 33%, and international analyzes of tobacco consumption reveal that the highest rates of smoking occur among people with mental illnesses, with a low level of education and who live below the poverty line.

The NIDA also notes that smoking is thought to be more prevalent among people with depression and schizophrenia because nicotine might temporarily relieve symptoms of these illnesses, such as poor concentration, depressed mood, and stress.

In addition to the fact that the consumption of this product is highly related to patients with mental health conditions, there are various campaigns to discourage its consumption in this population group.

Smoking is one of the main risk factors for premature death and disability, with 11.5 million deaths attributable to tobacco use, according to the United Nations (UN). Additionally, it can reduce the effectiveness of prescribed medications or can favor the appearance of some side effects.

Tips to quit smoking

According to the Dr. Carmen Amezcuaintegrative psychiatrist, there are some recommendations to reduce tobacco consumption:

1. Plan activities that replace tobacco use. Instead of smoking every time you feel anxious, for example, you can listen to music or drink an infusion.
2. Pay attention to your lifestyle. Review what physical activities you can add to your day to day to activate your body and reduce tobacco use.
3. Maintain an integrative psychiatry treatment. Asking for help from a mental health professional will help you both cut down on your smoking and manage the conditions you’re going through.
4. Ask for help. Communicate with your close ones, friends or relatives, and express to them that you want to quit smoking, so that they can be a support network in your process.

Also read:

Smoking, responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths from lung cancer

Psychiatrist draws up a guide to quit smoking: These are his recommendations

Smoking, an addiction that causes everything from dysbiosis to cancer