Stop Smoking

Quitting Smoking Before a Spinal Fusion

Greg — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:55:47 -0700

An extensive amount of research has firmly established that cigarette smoking is bad for patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. But just how bad is smoking? How does it impact a spinal fusion? What do I need to know to help my chances of successfully quitting smoking? This article addresses those questions and more.

Smoking causes a number of significant problems for patients undergoing spinal fusion including the following:

Resources to Help Quit Smoking

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:38:19 -0700

We are providing a number of links to additional stop smoking resources because we think these are helpful. The links go to websites that are not a part of Spine-health.com and Spine-health.com is not responsible for the content on the following sites.

Stop Smoking - References

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:30:45 -0700

Glassman, S.D., Anagnost, S.C. et al. (2000). The effect of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation on spinal fusion. Spine, 25, 2608-2615.
Glassman, S.D., Dimar, J.R. et al. (2007). The efficacy of rhBMP-2 for posterolateral lumbar fusion in smokers. Spine, 32, 1693-1698.
Ho, M.K. and Tyndale, R.F. (2007). Overview of the pharmacogenomics of cigarette smoking. The Pharmacogenomics Journal, 7, 81-98.
Patkar, A.A., Vergare, M.J.
read more

Anti-Smoking Medications: Zyban and Chantix

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:06:01 -0700

Currently there are two main prescription medications that may be prescribed to help people quit smoking: Zyban and Chantix.

Zyban (bupropion)
Bupropion is a prescription anti-depressant medication marketed under the brand names Wellbutrin (for depression) and Zyban (for smoking cessation). Zyban does not contain nicotine and is thought to affect chemicals in the brain that are related to nicotine craving. Zyban can be used either alone or in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Quit Smoking

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:59:19 -0700

There are many pharmacological approaches to smoking cessation but the most popular include nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) and Anti-Smoking Medications: Zyban and Chantix.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy
There are four main nicotine replacement products available including nicotine gum, transdermal patch (nicotine patch), nasal spray, and vapor inhalant.

Psychological-Behavioral Approaches to Quit Smoking

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:47:55 -0700

There are a number of behavioral methods to quit smoking that address primarily the habit of smoking, not the underlying physical nicotine addiction.

Self-help (quitting smoking on one's own). The author's review of the literature in the Annals of Internal Medicine is consistent with previous reviews and found that self-help - trying to quit smoking on one's own - does not have good success rates when undertaken without a person-to-person intervention.

Ways to Quit Smoking

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:52:10 -0700

There are several traditional methods that have been shown to be effective in helping people stop smoking. Most treatments for quitting smoking can be broadly classified into two approaches:

Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking?

Greg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:34:24 -0700

Did you know…Tobacco smoking is responsible for the deaths of approximately five million people each year (World Health Organization).

Despite educating people about the very serious health effects of smoking, approximately 22% of adults in the United States are smokers. Surveys have found that even though 80% of smokers would like to quit smoking, less than five percent are able to quit on their own due to the highly addictive properties of nicotine.

When to Quit Smoking

Greg — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:48:14 -0700

Based upon the previous discussion, the best approach for smokers facing spinal fusion is to stop smoking and remain non-smokers. This results in the best outcomes including a solid fusion and other desired outcomes, such as pain reduction.

Achieving a Spinal Fusion in Smokers

Greg — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:34:05 -0700

As this article discusses in detail, the best approach for achieving a successful outcome (e.g. reduced pain) in a spinal fusion patient who smokes is for that person to quit smoking, permanently. Unfortunately, not all patients are able or willing to quit smoking and alternative surgical procedures have been developed to help offset the negative influence of smoking.

Reasons to Quit Smoking Before Spinal Fusion

Greg — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:07:15 -0700

Studies have demonstrated that the rate of non-fusion in smokers is as much as twice that found in non-smokers. Although the studies on non-fusion rates are highly variable depending upon the procedures used, the fusion rates for non-smokers is about 5% to 15% whereas in smokers it is approximately 20% to 30%, or higher. Most theories as to why this occurs relate to the negative effects nicotine has on bone growth (which is essential for achieving a spinal fusion).

Zyban and Chantix Medications to Quit Smoking

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

There are two FDA-approved drugs that have approval to assist patients with quitting smoking.

Does Smoking Cause Low Back Pain?

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:21 -0800

A new study strengthens the link between smoking and lower back pain, and also sheds light on the causes of degenerative lumbar spine problems.