Quit smoking by pairing up
Partners can help distract each other by encouraging positive activities to replace the habit, writes Nadia Badarudin
KICKING the smoking habit works best in pairs. That’s the main message of a study presented at EuroPrevent 2019, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). “Quitting smoking can be a lonely endeavour,” says study author Magda Lampridou of Imperial College London, UK. The study titled Do married or cohabiting partners or significant others help or hinder cardiovascular patients in quitting smoking? points out that people feel left out when they skip the smoke break at work or avoid social occasions. On top of that, there are nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
“Partners can distract each other from cravings by going for a walk or to the cinema and encouraging replacement activities like eating healthy food or meditating when alone. Active support works best, rather than nagging.
“Smoking cessation interventions should incorporate couples where possible to achieve a smoke-free household,” says Lampridou.
The 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice says that half of coronary patients smoke and 90 per cent of people at high risk of cardiovascular disease are smokers. The guidelines advise against tobacco
in any form, and people who stop smoking generally halve their risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study evaluated the supporting role married or cohabiting partners might have in smoking cessation. The study enrolled 222 current smokers who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease or had suffered a heart attack. Partners were also recruited: 99 were current smokers (45 per cent), 40 ex-smokers, and 83 non-smokers.
Couples attended one of four preventive cardiology programmes during the 16-week study where they were offered nicotine replacement therapy with patches and gum or a prescription drug. At the end of the programme, 64 per cent of patients and 75 per cent of partners were abstinent — compared to none and 55 per cent at the start, respectively.
The odds of quitting smoking at 16 weeks were significantly higher (5.83fold) in couples who tried to quit together compared to patients who attempted it alone.
“Previous research has shown that ex-smokers can also positively influence their spouse’s attempts to quit, but in this study the effect was not statistically significant.
“As for non-smoking partners, there is a strong risk that they will adopt their spouse’s habit,” says Lampridou. She adds that research is needed to confirm the findings in smokers who are otherwise healthy.