Your partner can help you stop smoking

London: Although the decision is the right one for a healthier life, quitting can be a lonely business.

According to a recent study, partners can distract each other by going to movies or movies and encouraging alternative activities such as eating healthy foods or meditating alone. Active support works better, rather than harbading.

During the smoking cessation process, people feel excluded when they avoid a smoking break at work or avoid opportunities for socialization. In addition to this, there are symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. The researchers found that having a partner at your side during this phase was helpful.

Half of coronary patients smoke and 90% of people at high risk of cardiovascular disease are smokers. The cardiovascular prevention guidelines of the ESC do not recommend smoking in all its forms, and people who stop smoking generally reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by half.

"Smoking cessation interventions should include as many couples as possible in order to achieve a smoke-free household," said Magda Lampridou, lead author of the study. This study badessed the supportive role that married or cohabiting partners may have in quitting smoking.

The study recruited 222 current smokers with a high risk of cardiovascular disease or having suffered a heart attack. Partners were also recruited: 99 current smokers (45%), 40 former smokers and 83 non-smokers.

Couples have followed one of four preventive cardiology programs. In the beginning, they were asked about their current status, their smoking history and their attempts to quit smoking.

Smoking status was validated with a carbon monoxide breath test. During the 16-week program, nicotine replacement therapy with patch and gum was offered to couples. In one program, participants could choose the varenicline prescription drug instead.

At the end of the program, 64% of the patients and 75% of the partners were abstinent, against none and 55% at the beginning, respectively. The odds of quitting at 16 weeks were significantly higher (5.83 times) in couples who were trying to quit smoking together compared to patients who were trying to do it alone.

According to the researchers, as long as non-smoking partners are concerned, they are likely to adopt the habits of their spouse.

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