According to estimates by the World Health Organization, if effective law enforcement policies are not implemented, more than 8 million smokers will die each year by 2030, more than 80% in low and middle income countries.

In this context, in which the “vice of smoking” seems not to be decreasing, Humanitas hospitals, in collaboration with the Humanitas Foundation for Research and Vitasnella Water, on No-Tobacco Day scheduled for Friday, May 31st, launch a campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with smoking and dedicated to the prevention of lung disease.

A water-based challenge

As Dr. Licia Siracusano, Head of the Humanitas Anti-smoking Centre, explains: “Quitting smoking is a major challenge. Most people feel discouraged and afraid to face everyday situations without a cigarette. Taking a detoxification course means taking out a gesture, your own moment dedicated to smoking. That’s why we decided to create a campaign that with a simple language and practical tricks, offers support to stop smoking and not fall back into this vice.

Smokers entering Humanitas hospitals (Humanitas Clinical Institute, Humanitas Gavazzeni and Castelli, Humanitas Mater Domini) and Humanitas University will be challenged to “quench your desire to smoke with a sip of water”: all those who want to participate will be asked to throw away their cigarettes to receive a bottle of Vitasnella Water in exchange.

“Drinking a sip of water every time you feel the desire to smoke helps to control this desire, relieves the dryness of the throat and jaws but above all helps to replace the gestures of the cigarette with a healthy routine,” continues Dr. Siracusano.

A challenge that is aimed at helping smokers to change their style, starting from water, a natural element essential for the life and health.

The Humanitas research for lung diseases

Humanitas Research Foundation is committed to the fight against lung cancer through the SMAC Project, the screening program for the prevention and early detection of smoking-related lung and cardiovascular diseases.

The study, developed by Dr. Giulia Veronesi, head of the Robotic Thoracic Surgery Section at Humanitas, is aimed at smokers over 30 years of age or ex-smokers over 55 years of age who have not had a low-dose CT scan in the last 18 months.

Advice on not falling into the trap of smoking

Here are some tips for those who have stopped smoking and are facing a crisis:

Try drinking a glass of water in small sips.
Remember that the desire to smoke lasts a few minutes (about 5 minutes), then it decreases sharply.
Remember that our brain has recorded the cigarette as a good memory, so it is normal to think about it.
Remember that you are not giving up anything: on the contrary, you will be healthier and will be able to save money.
Remember that you have already achieved your goal, you are a non-smoker.
Look for other distractions: a small walk, try to keep your hands busy (hold the pencil in your hand or doodling something).
Eat peacefully while enjoying food.
Avoid coffee after a meal if it reminds you of a cigarette.
Try brushing your teeth more often: doing so immediately after a meal reduces your desire to smoke.
There may be a period of constipation: help yourself by eating more fibre and drinking more water.
Chew gum, sugar-free candy, a licorice wood or gentian root if necessary.
Use anti-stress balls to hold in your hand.
Start a new life, including a new hobby that constantly gives positive stimuli to the brain, such as going to the gym, swimming pool, various preparation courses.
Helping you quit smoking
Quitting smoking is possible at any time, even if it is not easy: the Humanitas Anti-smoking Center offers a personalized path to help those who want to lose this bad habit, a real addiction that seriously damages their health.

To access the Anti-smoking Centre, the General Practitioner’s commitment to “multidisciplinary consultation for the Anti-smoking Centre” is sufficient.