Photo by Dustin Belt on Unsplash
It’s hard to believe we are entering year 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic with all its attendant disruptions. Understandably most of the scientific and lay press publications have focused on the virus, vaccines, COVID disease and efforts to reduce the impact of the virus on public health. Over the last several months there has been a noticeable uptick in publications on the mental health impacts of COVID, particularly social isolation and the inevitable feelings of depression and low mood that result. We have learned that smoking increases the risk of more severe disease from COVID, probably due to the negative impact cigarette smoke has on the lungs; and stopping smoking reduces that risk. What is not as well known is that stopping smoking improves mental health-- even now during the COVID pandemic.
Most people who smoke recognize that they use cigarettes to cope with stress, and they also know that smoking cessation is associated with increases in short-term stress from nicotine withdrawal. It would be natural to think that stopping cigarettes would lead to increases in low mood and depression. Surprisingly, the opposite is true. Within a few weeks of stopping cigarette smoking there is measurable decrease in psychological distress, lifting of anxiety and low mood, and within months an improvement in quality of life and well-being. In fact, the impact of smoking cessation on moderate depression is equivalent to the impact of taking an anti-depressant medication on improving mood.
Naturally, we're all very focused on protecting our health during these times. Quitting cigarettes is an important part of that effort. We also need to do all we can to improve our mental health. Now we know that quitting cigarette smoking is a good way to start that journey.
Dr. Hays
