SP0091 HOW TO SUPPORT YOURSELF QUITTING SMOKING

Abstract

Background: As a person living with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (a chronic inflammatory disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors) for the last 45 years (I have been diagnosed with RA at the age of 10 years old) I have been a smoker from the age of 14 years old. As I grew older, and was educated and involved concerning the management of my disease, I realized that smoking, besides its impact on my overall health, had a significant impact as one of the most important risk factors for RA that can increase the severity of the disease and to worsen symptoms. Smoking can also reduce the effect of treatments, including anti-TNF agents and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Hence, quitting smoking will improve my overall health, reduce the severity of my disease and ensure that treatments work and reduce the risk for comorbidities e.g. cardiovascular disease and the progression of the disease (joint destructions). Objectives: To quit smoking after 40 years of being a smoker and to regain my health and quality of life as well as increase the efficacy of the RA treatments. Methods: To succeed I plan to be very well informed and to understand the reasons of quitting smoking as well as the negative impact of smoking and to realize that quitting smoking will improve my health and social life. To inform all people close to me including family members as well as friends and coworkers about my decision to quit smoking. Mentally being prepared to cope with the desire to smoke as well as ridding the thought of “just smoke one”. It is also important to rid the mind and lose the connection of things associated with smoking, for example while drinking coffee. To ask for support if needed and to use tools to stop thoughts of smoking and to cope with the effects of nonsmoking and to try avoiding places that could increase my risk of starting to smoke again e.g. pubs Results: I have started to cut down on smoking and to minimize it and finally to fully quit smoking for the last 2 years. Conclusion: Although, if you ask all smokers how difficult it is to stop smoking, the answer will unanimously be “very hard”, as a former smoker I can say that if you quit smoking, be aware of the reasons and the importance of quitting smoking and you will notice that after all it is not very difficult. Of course, when you set this goal it is important that in case of first time failure to not blame yourself and I can not stress enough how important a support system is for example that of your friends, family and especially your spouse. Disclosure of Interests: None declared