Smoking is relatively dangerous to human beings even without any other health problems coupled to it. However, numerous studies are showing the potential for nicotine to increase the implications of schizophrenia. In essence, more people with the condition are being discovered to be using nicotine products. Therefore, the most important service to schizophrenics would be to device more ways to help them curb the habit. The following paper discusses the implications of nicotine use to people with mental disorders—specifically schizophrenia and the various studies that have been done in an effort to enhance treatment of similar cases.
Yee et. al put it that nicotine smoking prevalence is observed in people with mental disorders than any other occurrence in the general public. In addition, the authors put it that schizophrenics who tend to smoke have a higher frequency of smoking at about 60-80% higher (2015). Consequently, this shows the prevalence of disposition to smoking by patients with schizophrenia. An essential exploration to the study shows that morbidity and mortality rates are significantly higher as well. Considering that smoking itself is a leading cause of mortality at about 5 deaths from nicotine related cases. The above implications make the exploration of prevalence of nicotine dependence in patients with schizophrenia necessary.
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Smoking obviously alters the working of most beneficial drugs. In essence, the use of cigarettes by mental health patients can be traced back to mental health nurses using cigarettes as rewards for patients who have achieved their set goals. However, some studies are trying to find ways that mental health patients who are more disposed to the drug can be helped to quit or reduce the smoking habit. The high prevalence and frequency by schizophrenics is observed to a major obstacle. One of the suggested ways is using nicotine patches to relieve the urge to smoke. The transdermal patch is observed to be effective especially with long term smokers ( Joseph & Gamble, 2013). Another suggested method of reducing nicotine is the use of oral or nasal sprays. The sprays are a subtle way to help with the impulse that comes from smoking when bored. A final significant way to reduce smoking has been suggested to be using gum. Chewing like smoking helps relieve the stress to smoke and enables the patients to make the gum an excuse to relieve the urge to smoke. Bradshaw et. al used the above mentioned methods to explore the reduction of carbon monoxide ion a group of about 97 patients (2013). The results showed that some patients took well to the treatments and preferred some methods more than others. The use of gum was found to be most difficult as the nicotine caused stomach upsets. However, the use of the sprays was found to be most satisfactory as it bordered closer to real smoking. In the same study, some patients reported frustration is trying to quit and discomfort in their mental health (Bradshaw et.al, 2014). Some cases of relapse were also reported in the investigation.
Interestingly, some nurses are opposed to the ban of smoking on mental health patients. Some of the reasons that have been cited for opposing the ban are: the increase of irritability by mental patients, it removes a main source of relief and purpose for the patients. However, no significant evidence is given to support the claims on irritability and a source of purpose gotten from smoking cigarettes. It is important to note that smoking has been used a source of relief in the mental treatment world for a significant time. Bradshaw et.al advices that the use of smoking as therapy should be regulated to trying quitting methods as well (2014).
Cardiopulmonary complications are observed to be enhanced by smoking (Hjorth et. al, 2017). Smoking causes varied complications to different lung tissues. In essence, the effect of toxicity in smoking is observed to reduce circulation activity by not only slowing down the lungs but also causing vessel constrictions that lead to the cardiopulmonary conditions. Taylor puts it that smoking people require significant support and resources in order to quit (2015). The author cites that the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association offer significant free material to support patients who are trying to quit smoking. Nurses are also encouraged to help patients by advising against smoking and trying to stop smoking.
In conclusion, it is important for nurses to be on the fore-front in mitigating smoking habits. The implications of smoking, not only to mental health patients, but to the general public cannot be stressed enough. In essence, using the material provided free to enlighten patients on the implications of smoking will go a long way to serving the community. In the same way, the medical fraternity should collectively find ways to mitigate smoking a form of therapy. The technicalities introduced by uncertainty should be mitigated by doing studies on other ways to help schizophrenics without using the implications that nicotine has in the long term.
References
Yee, A., Bt Nek Mohamed, N. N., Binti Hashim, A. H., Loh, H. S., Harbajan Singh, M. K., Ng,
C. G., & Jambunathan, S. T. (2015). The effect of nicotine dependence on psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia. Biomed Research International, 2015730291. doi:10.1155/2015/730291
Hjorth, P., Juel, A., Hansen, M. V., Madsen, N. J., Viuff, A. G., & Munk-Jorgensen, P. (2017). Reducing the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Non-Selected Outpatients With
Schizophrenia: A 30-Month Program Conducted in a Real-life Setting. Archives Of Psychiatric Nursing, 31(6),602-609. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2017.08.005
Joseph, R., & Gamble, C. (2013). Cigarette smoking cessation using family interventions. Mental Health Practice, 16(6), 22-26.
Bradshaw, T., Davies, E., Stronach, M., Richardson, K., & Hermann, L. (2014). HELPING PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS TO CUT DOWN OR STOP SMOKING. Mental Health Practice, 17(6), 14-20.
Taylor, C., & Lillis, C. (2015). Oxygenation and Perfusion. Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of person-centered nursing care (Eighth ed., p. 1418).
