HIV related symptoms are significantly reduced three weeks after people quit smoking.
A new study (published in AIDS Patient care and STDs, September 2007) has shown that on an average of three weeks after quitting smoking, HIV related symptoms can be reduced significantly. The authors of this recent study suggest that giving up smoking may be an effective way to reduce the impact of both HIV itself and treatment side effects on people’s health.
Earlier studies have shown that smoking can decrease the effectiveness of HIV treatments, and can certainly increase mortality rates. Up until now, few other studies have looked at what effect quitting has on HIV symptoms and other quality of life measures. This particular trial, which took place in the United States, was made up of 95 smokers who attended an inner city HIV clinic. At three months, the average period of abstinence was 21 days for the study participants as a whole.
The most striking finding of the study was a longer length of smoking abstinence was significantly associated with reporting fewer symptoms (although, as mentioned, the average period of abstaining from smoking was just three weeks). It’s important to mention that no significant improvements were seen in those who had just been abstinent in the minimum 24 hour period. The study investigators suggested that the benefits of quitting smoking, in terms of reduced HIV related symptom burden, may take some time to be realised. They also acknowledged that some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can be similar to HIV related symptoms (e.g. fatigue, cough, headache, insomnia, and gastrointestinal discomfort), and this can complicate their ability to assess the effects of quitting smoking in the short term and the symptom burden of HIV.
They firmly conclude that their study shows that “length of time of smoking cessation is associated with a reduction in HIV – related symptom burden” and that “along with the decreased risk of numerous adverse health outcomes associated with smoking, cessation may represent an effective way to reduce the daily impact of HIV disease and treatment side effects.”
Quitting: a positive change
For James, an HIV positive test result was the incentive to get serious about quitting.
When I recently had my positive result for HIV, I picked up a prescription for Zyban. I’ve used it before unsuccessfully, but what helped me this time was finding out I was positive. You take it before you actually quit smoking. I started taking it a week before I found out, and then I gave up smoking two weeks after the diagnosis. The cravings are always there, but Zyban dulls them and works better than patches. Patches, gum, inhalants, I’ve tried them all.
My reasons for quitting were mostly about health. I’ve noticed my skin looking better, and I don’t get as short of breath as I used to. I’ve got chronic sinusitis, and stopping smoking has cleared my breathing. There were also financial considerations because I felt it was dead money; as well as pressure from family and friends and my partner complaining about the smell. So all the forces ganged up on me and it’s been surprisingly easy. Everything fitted together at the right time. If your heart’s not really in it, you’re not going to give it up.
