According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 16 million Americans are living with a condition caused by smoking.
Smoking impacts almost every organ in the body. It increases blood pressure, risk of heart disease, bone density loss and weakens the immune system. Symptoms include but are not limited to frequent coughing, shortness of breath, hearing loss, blindness, and tingling in the hands and feet. According to reports by the surgeon general, approximately 90% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking.
Currently, the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends yearly screening with a low-dose computed tomography (or a low-dose CT scan) for adults 50-80 years of age who have a 20-pack-per-year history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
Individuals who have smoked heavily can benefit greatly from quitting. Within 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure and heart rate begin to drop to a normal level. At 12 hours, the body’s carbon monoxide levels return to healthy levels. Within one year, the risk of a heart attack decreases to half that of a smoker. At 15 years, the risk of a heart attack is back to that of a non-smoker.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
While e-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, they still come with several health risks:
- Vaping can lead to dependency, especially in adolescents, whose brains are still developing
- E-cigarette vapor can contain harmful substances (formaldehydes/acetaldehydes, heavy metals like lead, nickel and tin)
- Some might contain unknown or mislabeled ingredients
- E-cigarettes can pose a fire and explosion hazard, primarily due to their lithium-ion batteries.
Studies have shown multimodality treatment—a combination of behavioral support and pharmacologic therapy—produces higher smoking quit rates than either treatment alone.
Upon initial consultation, patients will receive information regarding the Tobacco Cessation Program and answers to any questions they might have. Treatment specialists will evaluate tobacco use and related factors that may trigger or influence tobacco usage. A detailed plan for treatment and quitting will be created. One to two week follow-up visits (eg, telemedicine encounters or in-person office visit) will be advised to offer support, monitor for adverse pharmacologic effects, and emphasize adherence to medication.
CMS will allow two individual tobacco cessation counseling attempts per 12-month period. Each attempt may include a maximum of four cessation counseling sessions, with a total benefit covering up to eight sessions per 12-month period per Medicare beneficiary who uses tobacco. The practitioner and patient have the flexibility to choose between intermediate (3 to 10 minutes long), or intensive (more than 10 minutes) cessation counseling sessions for each attempt.
The Tobacco Cessation Program is located on the 6th floor, Suite 6A at Baylor Medicine McNair Campus.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 713-798-6376 or schedule through the appointment page bcm.edu/lungsched. After an initial session, you may send your Tobacco Treatment Program specialist a secure electronic message via myChart.