Smoking & Depression: A Deadly Duo

If you are an incessant smoker, you probably know when you’re feeling down and depressed. Depression in a smoker is usually characterized by doubled amount of cigarette sticks consumed in a day. For ages, our health care community has been trying to solve this very alarming mystery: does depression cause smoking or is it the other way around?.. These two, even if taken separately, indeed can cause major health problems, even trigger underlying ones especially in seniors whose body’s defenses are weaker. The medical community believes that if they are able to pinpoint which of the two comes first, they will be able to decrease the number of casualties for both cases.

Even if a strong link has been established between the two, it doesn’t really prove that one existed as a direct result of the other. In fact, there are quite a number of people who tried smoking for the first time not because they were depressed–just go ask a teenager! The same way as people who began smoking don’t automatically fall into depression. According to a survey done to establish connection between the two, a person who smoke is most likely to reach for a cigarette stick when depressed because of the calming effect a stick has, and because the feeling of depression doesn’t usually go away that easily—and the calming effect of a cigarette stick is all but temporary—he or she will surely consume another stick, in an attempt to somehow alleviate the bad feeling. In a way, depression doubles your cigarette consumption but it was never proven to be the cause of smoking. At present , experts believe that the best treatment for a person who is addicted to smoking and at the same time, experiences depression is to undergo treatment for both, either specialized treatment or separate courses.

It is also wise for the senior to recognize the signs. There are two major points to remember, smoking is an addiction and depression is a disorder. The soonest you recognize these and actually accept your condition—enough to get you to a specialist, the earlier you are saving your life from potentially health risks brought about by smoking and depression.

Nicotine dependence is notably marked by your inability to stop smoking, even in situations you know you are not allowed to. When a senior attempts to stop, he or she will experience withdrawal symptoms like cigarette cravings, restlessness and irritability, dry cough and even flu-like symptoms. On the other hand, depression symptoms are mostly emotional which extends to physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms are severe sadness, feeling worthless and sometimes even guilt, and loss of interest while physical symptoms are fatigue, lack of energy, and sleeping difficulties.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524