Hypnosis for smokers trying to quit
Ashtrays are no longer a staple of home decor, and smokers must huddle in the cold to indulge their habit. Still, on average, two out of every 10 people still are smoking cigarettes.
The fact that cigarettes kill more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, homicide and suicide combined – not to mention the threat of cancer, emphysema and heart disease – means most smokers want to quit, health officials say.
In Livingston County where half the residents have never smoked and a third have quit smoking, 20 percent of the population struggles with the addiction. Smoking cessation programs – including acupuncture, hypnosis, nicotine replacements, prescription anti-smoking drugs and behavior modification – are widely available. Smokers want to know: Will it work for me?
Dr. Swati Dutta, a radiation oncologist at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Woodland Cancer Center in Genoa Township, says he strongly encourages patients who are smokers to quit because of the numerous health problems associated with smoking. That list includes heart attacks, strokes, lung problems, cancers, dental problems and fertility issues.
