Doha, 05 March 2025: All smokers and users of tobacco and nicotine products have been urged by the Tobacco Control Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to benefit from the holy month of Ramadan and use it as an opportunity to give up smoking forever. Dr. Ahmed Al-Mulla, Director of the Tobacco Control Center—a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center for treating tobacco dependence—stressed that fasting is a great way for smokers to overcome their addiction to tobacco and nicotine products. He emphasized that avoiding smoking for extended periods of time during the day strengthens the self-discipline required to stop smoking and reduces both psychological and physical dependence on nicotine.
“The center reports a noticeable yearly increase in the number of smokers attempting to quit during Ramadan, and the therapeutic interventions whether behavioral or medicinal, can greatly increase the chances of successfully stopping permanently,” Dr. Al-Mulla noted.
Dr. Jamal Bashi, Smoking Cessation Specialist highlighted the importance of avoiding habits and behaviors that trigger the urge to smoke, such as consuming stimulants or spending time in environments that encourage smoking. He also suggested participating in social and religious activities, drinking plenty of water, using sugar-free gum in the evening, and using miswak during the fasting hours.
“Withdrawal symptoms from smoking typically appear only during the first week of Ramadan and that most smokers can overcome them without medical intervention. However, the Tobacco Control Center offers medical help to those who have trouble in stopping smoking,” Dr. Bashi added.
Additionally, Dr. Bashi warned against certain harmful behaviors that smokers tend to practice during Ramadan, which can be extremely dangerous to their health. Among these is smoking heavily after breaking fast which raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes and can result in a sudden rise in blood pressure. Furthermore, smoking more cigarettes in the evening increases nicotine addiction, making it more difficult to stop after Ramadan.
According to Dr. Al-Mulla, HMC’s Tobacco Control Center offers a wide range of treatments to assist smokers in quitting. These treatments, which are provided through specialized programs that have been scientifically proven to be successful in assisting patients on their path to quitting smoking, include behavioral therapy, medication-based treatment, and laser therapy. Since its establishment, the center has successfully treated thousands of smokers, reducing the health and economic burden on smokers, their families, and the healthcare system.
The center encourages all individuals looking to quit smoking to take advantage of its services during the holy month and book an appointment by calling (40254981 – 50800959).
