Quitting isn’t easy for anyone who smokes, but it’s thought to be even harder for women. One thing that could make a difference for ladies is to pay attention to their menstrual cycle and the timing for when they try to stop.
A recent study published in Psychiatry Journal found that where a woman is in her cycle can significantly affect nicotine cravings. The University of Montreal researchers claim that hormone levels are important when trying to overcome withdrawal symptoms.
“Our data reveal that incontrollable urges to smoke are stronger at the beginning of the follicular phase that begins after menstruation,” Adrianna Mendrek from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal, said in a statement. “Hormonal decreases of estrogen and progesterone possibly deepen the withdrawal syndrome and increase activity of neural circuits associated with craving. Taking the menstrual cycle into consideration could help women to stop smoking.”
How Artera is Using Agentic AI to Humanize Patient Care
Artera President Tom McIntyre talks about the practical application of AI in healthcare.
The researchers analyzed 34 men and women who smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day. The craving for nicotine was strongest for women during their periods. But obviously other factors come into play when someone is trying to quit.
“Stress, anxiety, and depression are probably the more important factors to take into consideration. Having said that, amongst young people, tobacco use by women is unfortunately increasing,” Mandrek said. “A greater knowledge of the neurobiological mechanisms governing addiction should enable us to better target treatment according to the smoker’s profile.”
[Photo from Flickr user Tonino Donato]