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Smoking Cessation Position Statement

The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) strongly encourages Canadians to quit smoking to improve physiological health and quality of life.

One of the roles of a respiratory therapist is to advocate and encourage smoking cessation to patients, friends and family. Many organizations such as the Lung Association, Health Canada and the Canadian Respiratory Health Professional, Heart and Stroke Foundations have tools on their website to assist every Canadian with their habits of smoking.

Facts:

As stated on the Health Canada website In 2002, 37,209 Canadians died as a result of tobacco use and second hand smoke. Respiratory diseases count for 8,282 deaths.

Smoking is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory disease.
Smoking during pregnancy not only affects the health of a mother, but also her unborn and newborn baby. If you smoke and are pregnant, you have a higher risk of miscarriage and complications during birth, and of having an infant with low birth weight. Your baby is more prone to illnesses (for example asthma or sudden infant death syndrome) and has a higher chance of death at birth or shortly after.

As soon as you become smoke-free, your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease. Within one year, your chance of dying from smoking-related heart disease is cut in half. Within 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. After 15 years your risk will be nearly that of a non-smoker.

In 2005, 49% of smokers tried to become smoke-free. More than 50% of former smokers reported that they were able to become smoke-free after one or two serious attempts. However, it can take some people many attempts to become smoke-free. The percentage of people who remain smoke-free after one year of quitting ranges from 5 to 18%.

Recommendations
Becoming smoke-free can extend your life, even if you are over 60 years of age.

To prevent further deaths caused by tobacco use and second hand smoke, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recommends that:

Canadians:

Who are currently smoke-free - particularly children and youth - remain smoke-free, and those who currently smoke cigarettes become smoke-free as soon as possible.
Who are seeking more information about becoming or remaining smoke-free visit our Web site: www.heartandstroke.ca.
Should have access to information about the harms of tobacco use and second hand smoke, the benefits of becoming smokefree, and aids to assist Canadians to become smoke-free.
Create and maintain smoke-free spaces to protect loved ones from the effects of second hand smoke. Make your car and home smokefree and avoid public places that are not smoke-free.
As more adults become smoke-free, there will be more smoke-free role models for children.

Research shows that the use of telephone Quit Lines, weekly counseling, support groups, supportive environments, and supportive friends and family members can improve your likelihood of becoming smoke-free. In addition, the use of aids such as nicotine replacement therapy and prescription pharmaceutical products such as Bupropion Hydrochloride (e.g. Zyban®, Wellbutrin®) and Varenicline Tartrate (i.e., Champix®) can increase your chance of becoming smoke-free.

References:
Health and stroke Foundation:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.2796497/k.BF8B/Home.htm