Smoking Cessation Strategies

Cigarette smoking is a substantial social and public health problem contributing to about half of the 400,000 cardiovascular deaths in the United States. Nicotine and carbon monoxide are the components in cigarette smoke that contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Nicotine is a stimulant of the sympathetic nervous system. It increases myocardial oxygen demand, increases platelet aggregation predisposing to coronary thrombosis and compromises coronary flow, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. Transdermal nicotine in controlled doses has proven to be an effective adjunct to smoking cessation in addition to the nonpharmacological therapy.