A SHORT-TERM FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON EX-CIGARETTE SMOKERS - WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PERSISTENT COUGH AND WEIGHT GAIN

Abstract

Two hundred twenty-four ex-cigarette smokers were interviewed. More than 3/4 of the subjects experienced 1 or more withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of smoking. The more a subject smoked, the greater the number of withdrawal symptoms he was likely to experience. These consisted principally of the urge to have something in the mouth (59%), increased nervousness and general irritability (52%), and an inability to concentrate or disorientation (20%). Persistent bronchial cough was the symptom that showed the most striking change, ceasing in 77% of the subjects and improving in 17%. When cough stopped, 54% of the time it did so within 4 weeks. Throat clearing stopped in 51% of the subjects and improved in 22%. In 57% of those whose throat clearing stopped, it did so within 4 weeks. Shortness of breath improved in 57% of the ex-smokers who had experienced symptoms prior to stopping smoking, and ceased in 18%. Weight gain was noted in 68% of the ex-smokers. In 2/3 of this group, the weight gain was 15% or less. In most cases it was related to increased appetite (82%) and increased food intake (83%). Approximately half the time the increase in intake covered the entire spectrum of the subjects'' diet, and half the time it was restricted primarily to sweets. A desire to have something in the mouth strongly contributed to the increase in appetite and food intake and, thus, to the increase in weight. The gain appeared to be gradual, with half the group attaining their maximal weight within 6 months of stopping smoking. Dieting was the most common method of controlling the weight gain. Weight gain among ex-smokers seemed to relate primarily to an increase in caloric intake. No conclusive evidence was found to indicate that the weight gain occurred independently of such an increase.