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See Beyond the Smoke
The other day someone asked me to name one positive step they could take to preserve their eyesight as the grow older.
The obvious answer, I guess, would be something like , "Get periodic eye exams with a glaucoma pressure check." If it is such a predictable, obvious reply then I should say something different.
"Stop smoking!"
How does cigarette smoking influence vision and the health of the eyes? It's been known for a long time that smokers get cataracts earlier in life than nonsmokers, but the big impact comes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration - the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in folks over 60. Smoking contributes to the development and progression of ARMD.
Stop smoking and you will reduce your risk of developing vision loss due to ARMD.
Now the good part, there's a better way to stop smoking, better than all pervious smoke cessation treatments. It is a new prescription pill called Chantix (Varenicline, Pfizer). Other medications have been used (reformulated antidepressants, anti-seizure pills, etc.) but Chantrix is the first FDA-approved pill specifically formulated to help smokers quit. And it does!
New clinical data in this month's Archives of Internal Medicine (published by AMA) offers very promising results involving first-time quitters and repeaters.
Chantix blocks the site where nicotine pleases the brain. Two good things happen: the person no longer craves nicotine and they do not receive the nicotine 'reward'. This approach is very different than nicotine replacement (gum, patches, sprays) because the nonsmoker is still consuming daily nicotine! They still crave nicotine and the pleasure triggered by nicotine.
True, it is a healthy step to eliminate the dirty cigarettes, however, the nicotine addiction persists. Nicotine is a very powerful stimulant and it is easily abused. I've had patients wearing 2 patches, chewing nic gum, and still smoke!
Until the nicotine vaccine arrives (2009?) Chantix may be the very best option to help smokers quit for good and help preserve their good eyesight.
Related Topics: Have Migraines? Smoking May Be a Trigger, Design A Personalized Quit Plan
Technorati Tags: ARMD, Chantix, quit smoking
The obvious answer, I guess, would be something like , "Get periodic eye exams with a glaucoma pressure check." If it is such a predictable, obvious reply then I should say something different.
"Stop smoking!"
How does cigarette smoking influence vision and the health of the eyes? It's been known for a long time that smokers get cataracts earlier in life than nonsmokers, but the big impact comes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration - the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in folks over 60. Smoking contributes to the development and progression of ARMD.
Stop smoking and you will reduce your risk of developing vision loss due to ARMD.
Now the good part, there's a better way to stop smoking, better than all pervious smoke cessation treatments. It is a new prescription pill called Chantix (Varenicline, Pfizer). Other medications have been used (reformulated antidepressants, anti-seizure pills, etc.) but Chantrix is the first FDA-approved pill specifically formulated to help smokers quit. And it does!
New clinical data in this month's Archives of Internal Medicine (published by AMA) offers very promising results involving first-time quitters and repeaters.
Chantix blocks the site where nicotine pleases the brain. Two good things happen: the person no longer craves nicotine and they do not receive the nicotine 'reward'. This approach is very different than nicotine replacement (gum, patches, sprays) because the nonsmoker is still consuming daily nicotine! They still crave nicotine and the pleasure triggered by nicotine.
True, it is a healthy step to eliminate the dirty cigarettes, however, the nicotine addiction persists. Nicotine is a very powerful stimulant and it is easily abused. I've had patients wearing 2 patches, chewing nic gum, and still smoke!
Until the nicotine vaccine arrives (2009?) Chantix may be the very best option to help smokers quit for good and help preserve their good eyesight.
Related Topics: Have Migraines? Smoking May Be a Trigger, Design A Personalized Quit Plan
Technorati Tags: ARMD, Chantix, quit smoking
