Dubai: Amna Hassan, a toxicologist at the Sharjah Medical District under the Ministry of Health, said that smokers need a lot of cajoling to break their smoking habit. Hassan organises ‘Healthy Tent’, a special programme undertaken by the Ministry to make the residents of the nation quit.

“We work in government and private corporations, sometimes even at schools and universities, to spread awareness and promote anti-smoking campaigns. We take tests, give medication and counselling to all the people who smoke,” Hassan told Gulf News.

Free medication is rendered to Emiratis while 40 per cent of the charge is levied on expatriates. Hassan said she has been successful in her attempt.

“In my knowledge, I have seen some people undergoing a transformation. On an average, 10 people have quit smoking in a month in Sharjah, while in a year 130 persons or above quit. We give them awards as incentives to continue this practise,” she said. As per 2010, Hassan recalls that around 15 per cent of the smokers in the UAE met fatal ends.

Dr Ameena Al Hashimi, an oncologist at the Sharjah Preventive Medicine Department, said: “Studies have proved smoking to be associated with cancer diagnosis. Majority of my patients in the UAE suffer from lung cancer while heart diseases and bronchitis are also common. When a person quits, the lungs are immediately cleared off carbon monoxide, which is detrimental to the human body.”

Padmaraju Varrey, senior psychiatrist at The New Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, said: “Smoking can be ceased only if there is motivation from within an individual followed by family and peer support.”

He reiterates the fact that doctors can only help if the motivation level of an individual is high.

“Nicotine is an addictive substance that is way more harmful than caffeine. When a smoker is forced to quit his intake of nicotine, he generally feels, what we call ‘withdrawal symptoms’, which include lethargy, irritability while chronic smokers feel headaches, trembling of hand and lack of focus at work,” Varrey said.

Further, Varrey specified that it is good to take aid from government schemes and doctors while trying to change such a lifestyle. He suggested nicotine lozenges, gum or nicotine patches to apply on the skin that slowly releases a chemical into the body for a short duration of one to two months. He also emphasised the fact that relapse is common for people who are trying to quit the habit.

“In such a case, as family and friends, do not shun that person. Rather, be understanding and encouraging towards them. Say, ‘Wow! You look so much better now, that you’re not smoking!’ or tell that person you know how hard it was to abstain from smoking for how many ever months after nearly a decade of addiction. The idea is to bring the motivation from within oneself and not thrust it. Give that person some time and be supportive of them,” advises Varrey.

 — The writer is an intern with the Readers Desk at Gulf News.