It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health. It’s the leading cause of preventable death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports that an estimated 44 million adults were cigarette smokers in 2012—a prevalence rate of 18 percent. And despite decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, more than two-thirds of smokers want to quit. Smoking cessation, therefore, is a huge topic.
However, according to the CDC, only an estimated five percent are successful at quitting on any given day. That’s why researchers around the world are investigating new ways to help people kick the habit—and emerging data show that a type of brain stimulation may do more than help them feel less dependent on cigarettes.
Electrical brain stimulation has been used to treat neurological and mental disorders for decades, but only recently have scientists begun exploring the benefits of using it to help people quit smoking or using other drugs.
New Data on H4-Coil as a Smoking Cessation Treatment
The FDA has approved only one type of electrical brain stimulation to treat depression, one using a type of magnetic coil called the H1-coil. However, recent studies show that another type, called the H4-coil, may deliver similar benefits without the side effects sometimes associated with magnetic stimulation.
One study found that three weeks of H4-coil stimulation may help people quit smoking. Compared to a placebo, those receiving the treatment had about twice the success rate at staying abstinent from cigarettes over a one week period. In addition, another study found that this type of brain stimulation may benefit those addicted to cocaine as well as those addicted to cigarettes.
We are excited to offer the latest in smoking cessation treatment options and help our patients quit.
As a leading provider of TMS, PsyFi TMS specializes in providing the best possible service and results for those wanting to overcome smoking addiction. Contact us today at info@psyfitms.com for more information or visit www.psyfitms.com to book your first appointment!