Smokers Benefit From Acupuncture And Other Treatments

Most American adults who smoke wish they could quit, and more than half have tried within the past year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. For those who have attempted to quit smoking previously without success, and who are motivated to kick the habit, acupuncture can be an effective therapy for smoking cessation.

Approximately 69 percent of current adult smokers say they want to quit, and 49 percent of smokers who saw a health professional in the past year recalled getting advice to quit. Nearly 32 percent used counseling and/or medications in the past year. The use of these effective treatments, when combined with acupuncture, can almost double to triple rates of successfully quitting.

“Other measures of increasing the likelihood that smokers will quit as they want to include hard-hitting media campaigns, 100 percent smoke-free policies and higher tobacco prices,” says CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D.

Making health care settings as well as all workplaces and public places smoke-free offers smokers additional encouragement to help them quit, according to the report. The health care industry can increase successful quit attempts by providing comprehensive insurance coverage with no deductibles or co-payments for cessation treatments and services.

Smoking can lead to health problems and illnesses including:

• Shortness of breath.
• Chronic cough.
• Increased frequency of colds and flu.
• Emphysema.

Quitting smoking can be challenging. Smokers benefit from acupuncture in the managing of withdrawal symptoms such as: Increased appetite, sleep imbalances, dizziness, headaches, restlessness, tiredness, and concentration difficulties.

Acupuncture & Massage College’s Community Clinic offers acupuncture, massage therapy and herbal medicine for the treatment of a wide range of health conditions as well as for overall wellness. To schedule an appointment call (305) 595-9500. For information about AMC’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs ask for Joe Calareso, Admissions Director.