Smoking Cessation
Patient Education

Doctors Who Treat the Need for Smoking Cessation

Most individuals will seek help from the healthcare provider that they have a rapport with and who knows them. This would include:

• General Practitioner (family practice) - deals with prevention, discovery, and treatment of illnesses in all age categories
• Internist - focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of adult illness
• Gynecologist - deals with female health
• Pediatrician - specializes in infant, childhood, and adolescent care
• Gerontologist - deals with senior or elder health
• Nurse Practitioner - focuses on prevention, wellness, and education of patients about health and health choices

For a higher degree of success in smoking cessation, the following specialists listed in this patient education guide are added to the team:

• Psychologist - deals with the emotional stress, anxiety, depression, and fear that led to smoking as a solution and the same emotional problems accompanying withdrawal
• Behavior modification professional - a psychologist, a social worker, or another trained program leader who helps change habits that contributed to smoking desires; may also provide mediation through sensory relaxation methods, physical exercise, and breathing techniques
• Psychiatrist - deals in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders; may prescribe medication to help tolerate the physical effects of withdrawal as well as antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, and mood elevators
• Nutritionist - deals with how food and nutrition affect health; will formulate a diet plan to achieve health and help identify foods normally associated with a smoking habit, substituting healthier choices
• Alternative care practitioner - specializes in the mind-body connection, natural biological agents like herbs and supplements, and manipulative practices such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, yoga, and exercise

There are additional resources that provide information and help; toll free 1-800-QUIT NOW is the national access number to quit line services for each individual state.