Do you have an upcoming surgery? Do you smoke? Well stop!
Besides the multiple reasons to quit smoking for overall health, it has time and again been the reasons for postoperative complications.
Respiratory failure, pneumonia, stroke, and heart attacks are all common occurrences when a surgery goes awry due to the patient pre-operative smoking habits. Quitting before it is too late can help reduce post-operative complications as well. Smoking affects wound healing and breathing long after surgery is done.
How Long Do I Need to be Smoke Free?
When behavioral techniques are sought out, people were more than ten times likely to quit that on their own. The length of time you quit smoking prior to surgery will have different post-operative advantages.
- Quitting 12-24 hours prior to surgery in enough to increase the oxygen available to tissue.
- 1 - 2 weeks is enough to reduce the mucous volume.
- At least 4 weeks reduces the risk of respiratory and wound healing complications.
What Kind of Help Is There?
There are multiple sources for help regarding smoking cessation. Talk to your primary doctor about ways to help cut back with smoking. There are medications that you could talk to your doctor about, as well as other non-medication options. Telephone hotlines and online smoking cessation programs are also available to the public for free. So, don’t wait! Talk to someone now about quitting, it could save your life sooner than you think.
Resources:
Need more information about how and why to quit smoking? Check out this website for tips and tricks to kick to habit.
By: Riki Duncan, MA. Ed, ATC, LAT
Sources:
http://www.kdheks.gov/tobacco/cessation.html
http://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/tobacco/smokingandtobacco/
http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/
