Quitting first cigarette after fasting is first step toward giving up smoking: PHCC 

Doha, Qatar: Ramadan is seen as a suitable opportunity for smokers in their efforts to quit smoking, due to the religious and social factors this mont...

Doha, Qatar: Ramadan is seen as a suitable opportunity for smokers in their efforts to quit smoking, due to the religious and social factors this month provides that help in overcoming this scourge, as fasting for several hours forces the smoker to reduce nicotine, which trains the body to gradually give up this habit.

Head of Wellness for Community Interventions at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) Dr. Abdulhameed Al Khenji said that many smoking cessation initiatives have been implemented during Ramadan around the world. He noted that several studies have shown the effectiveness of Ramadan in resetting habits, including smoking.

He added that fasting trains a person daily to abstain from smoking for long hours, and this in itself is a strong step towards quitting, stressing the importance of investing the fasting hours as a starting point for quitting smoking, and Ramadan can be considered a practical exercise for quitting.

Dr. Al Khenji advised smokers to change their lifestyle routine during Ramadan, especially after Iftar to quit smoking permanently, as they can avoid sitting in places associated with smoking, such as cafes or shisha lounges.

He also warned of the first hour after breaking the fast, during which one should refrain from smoking to accustom the body to quitting nicotine. To do this, one can start breaking the fast with dates and water, then perform the Maghrib prayer, then have a light meal, and then walk for 10 to 15 minutes. He pointed out that all these steps are known as postponing the "first cigarette after fasting," and therefore every delay reduces the strength of the association between breaking the fast and smoking, until you discover that you no longer need a cigarette.