According to H Krishna Kumar, former president of the Malaysian Medical Association, it could be dangerous to stop smoking abruptly, for some people, at least.
“It depends on the individual,” he told FMT. “It may be best for some people to quit cold turkey but for others, especially those who are old and have medical problems, it may be better to quit gradually.
“If it’s the chemicals that have got the person hooked, then there will be withdrawal symptoms and if the person has medical problems, the withdrawal effects could adversely affect any existing medical condition.”
Krishna advised smokers with medical problems to ask their doctors whether it would be safe for them to go cold turkey. The doctors should know whether it would exacerbate their health problems, he said.
Shah Alam resident Mohamad Shazlan Ghazali told FMT of his father’s experience of quitting smoking suddenly after a stroke.
“My father used to smoke at least two packs a day,” he said. “Because he was such a heavy smoker, the doctor suggested that he quit gradually, but he was stubborn. He went ahead and did it cold turkey, and I saw how he suffered. He had insomnia, couldn’t eat, couldn’t relax and, on top of all that, he was constantly vomiting blood.”
Shazlan said the doctor had told his father sudden cessation would make him susceptible to viruses because he had just suffered a stroke.
“But somehow I’m glad my father quit cold turkey because after that period of suffering, he is now much healthier and stronger.”
Krishna said Shazlan’s father was lucky as something worse could have happened.
“You see, if he has just had a stroke, you wouldn’t want him to quit cold turkey because if his craving for a cigarette creates anxiety, then that can bring his blood level up again and that can mean his chances of getting a recurrent stroke are much higher.”
MMA president John Chew said he had never heard of any life threatening withdrawal effects caused by quitting cigarettes.
Nevertheless, he added, the chances of successfully kicking the habit would be higher with the use of nicotine replacements.
“The success rate among those who quit cold turkey is 20%. The rate for those who quit with nicotine replacements goes up to 30%.
“But a lot depends on the individual’s willpower as well as the support of family and friends.”
He said nicotine addiction was “powerful” and withdrawal symptoms would include mood swings, irritability, anxiety and depression.
Allan Foo, the founder of Malaysian E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association, said he used to smoke three packs a day but vaping had helped him reduce that to less than a pack.
“A lot of customers use vaporizers to help them quit smoking,” he told FMT.
He said it would take about two weeks to get away from cigarettes and two months to stop the nicotine craving.
“Vaping helps because you can slowly reduce the nicotine intake.”
Vape liquids usually come with nicotine levels of 12mg, 9mg, 6mg, 3mg and 0mg. Cigarettes sold in the country typically contain 12mg of nicotine per stick.
However, Foo does not believe it is dangerous to quit smoking cold turkey.
“I think all you have to face are the withdrawal symptoms,” he said. “Vaping helps to alleviate those symptoms.”