Stopping smoking, alcohol consumption or consumption of toxic element is one of the most essential things you can do for your wellbeing. No matter how long you have these habits; if you give up those you’ll lessen your risk of developing a range of diseases. If you’ve been thinking about quitting, this lockdown period is the best time.
Any individual is unable to quit smoking or drinking alcohol unless he or she has a strong reason to do so. This COVD-19 pandemic lockdown provided that platform. Lockdown or homestay means spending most of the time with the family members, love ones and in quarantine. By smoking, one is exposing families to second-hand smoke and as per the study, passive smoking is as harmful as active smoking. Mostly, smoking or drinking considered to be a social activity with friends and colleagues. Now, with social distancing in place, gatherings being banned hence there are chances for one who wants to quite reduce smoking alcohol consumption.
With the lockdown- imposed social distancing, since March-end that has directed to the closure of most restaurants and bars as well as a social activity with friends and colleagues in India, and thereby consistent drinkers, smokers and users of weed, are learning well, sober. However the government has now allowed alcohol delivery through an e-token system, the process remains to be awkward when compared to walking into your neighbourhood alcohol liquor shop and walking away with a khamba (a file of alcohol).
Why it’s important to quit to stop smoking during lockdown & quarantine period.
- As COVID-19 first and foremost affects lung activity, patients who are smokers incline to need intensive care and ventilation more than non-smokers, as per the World Health Organization.Casualty rates were higher among patients with comorbidities such as cardiovascular hypertension, disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease some of which are directly related to smoking.
- Due to chewable tobacco leads to increased production of saliva and thus the desire to spit, as a plea from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)explained. “Spitting in public places could enhance the spread of the COVID-19 virus”.
With the lockdown’s regulated stock of cigarettes, smokers can go into withdrawal. In many families, people would not smoke at home out of a sense of respect for their elders or because of the absence of social cues of parties and post-lunch tea breaks with colleagues.
As per experts people who are looking forward to quitting during the lockdown.
Stay Positive
- You might have tried to quit smoking before the pandemic, continue doing that and not managed it, but don't let that put you down. For the first week, the questions were mostly around dealing with withdrawal symptoms and sourcing nicotine patches. After around 60 days down the line, a few of them have not experience relapse.
- Make a plan to quit smoking during your homestay and for the sake of your family, make an assurance that you should booze around your family. No one wants to compromise family health for self-choices. Stick to the "not a drag" rule.
- Think about your diet habit - Is your after-dinner roll-up your desired? The study discovered that some foods, comprising meat, make cigarettes more satisfying. Others, including cheese, fruit and vegetables, make cigarettes taste terrible. So substitute your usual meat option for vegetarian food in its place.
- Change your routine at home, after mealtimes. Getting up and doing the dishes, cleaning home, spending time with dear ones straight away may help.
- Change your drink. Sparkling drinks, alcohol, cola, tea and coffee all make cigarettes taste better. So drink more water and juice. Some people find simply changing their drink (for example, switching from wine to a vodka and tomato juice) affects their need to reach for a cigarette.
- Identify cigarettes cravings - A craving can last 5 minutes. Before you give up, make a list of 5-minute strategies with family. For example, dance with ids, play ball,, gardening, 5 min walk or clean washroom.
50% of Indian Smokers Want
Quitting tobacco use may be particularly important at this time to reduce the damage caused by COVID-19, this is an ideal break to make people aware of the damaging effects of tobacco consumption as they are scared and listen to you in such moments.
As per GATS Report, About 55% of smokers and nearly 50% of smokeless tobacco users are interested in quitting the habit or plan to do so. For those keen to quit, the lockdown might be a good opportunity.