The Dangers of Smoking During Gender Transition and How You Can Stop
The LGBTQ+ community often struggles with social stigma and discriminatory attention. However, there is another issue that is prevalent among these individuals: high tobacco use rates. Statistics on LGB adults show that they smoked more cigarettes compared to heterosexual adults. This trend can also be seen among transgender adults, who are 9% more likely to be using tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars, compared to cisgender adults.
Unfortunately, no one is exempted from the negative health effects of cigarette use. Most are familiar with the long-term causes of smoking, such as cancer, lung diseases, stroke, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarettes also have adverse short-term effects, which are especially harmful in people undergoing gender transition. Below, we’ll discuss the dangers of smoking during gender transition and how smokers can stop:
Dangers of smoking during gender transition
Gender transition is a long, stressful process. While some may use cigarette smoking to relax, this may do more harm than good in transition, especially in medical options. One of the biggest dangers is the increased risk of complications during surgery. When undergoing surgery, almost all have to take general anaesthesia— slowing down body processes, including breathing and heart rate. This process can be life-threatening for smokers as their body already strains to get enough oxygen due to carbon monoxide in their bloodstream and weaker lungs due to toxic substances from cigarette smoking.
Similarly, those undergoing hormone therapy are subject to venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is when a blood clot happens in the veins— leading to a possible stroke. Smoking during hormone therapy can increase the chance of blockages in the veins, which is life-threatening. Given these problems, many doctors suggest their patients stop smoking weeks before undergoing transitional surgery.
How you can stop smoking
If you’re a person transitioning or expecting to transition soon, here are some ways to stop smoking and ensure a healthier change:
Use stop-smoking aids
It can be challenging to quit smoking due to cigarette withdrawal, so many turn to stop-smoking aids to help them overcome these symptoms. Nicotine pouches are an excellent option for those trying to quit, as they are 100% tobacco-free and smoke-free, allowing users to use them discreetly almost anywhere. For those interested in classic flavours, VELO exclusively offers two types: mint and citrus. On the other hand, On! offers a wide range of flavours, including unique takes like coffee and cinnamon. Smokers can also choose nicotine strength levels from 2mg to 8mg, enabling them to find the pouch that meets their needs and tastes.
Another recommendation is e-cigarettes, a popular quit-smoking option in the UK, with some popular brands including Vaporesso and Elf. Recently, the country has facilitated a scheme to give almost one in five smokers an e-cigarette starter kit to encourage them to quit smoking. Considering vaping’s rising popularity and accessibility, it can be a viable stop-smoking aid for smokers.
Seek help from peers and professionals
Quitting is a tough process, so it’s essential to seek help from peers and professionals. Family and friends are part of your everyday life, so they can be a great source of encouragement and support. If needed, they can be the ones to keep you away from cigarettes or help distract you by joining you in taking up a hobby or exercise.
Similarly, professionals like therapists can be a good source of advice when quitting. They can work with you through the reasons behind smoking and address them, making it easier to overcome the habit.
Smoking is a harmful habit, especially among people undergoing gender transition. By quitting, you can improve the quality of treatments, stay healthy, and enjoy your transition life. For more information on the gender transition process, we recommend visiting our post on an experience undergoing transgender GRS surgery.
Thank you for reading this post. Why not check out some of my other posts like 5 Things to Help Ahead of Your Transgender GRS Surgery you can also access more info on my Resources Page. If you found it useful, you can buy a coffee or perhaps treat yourself to some KelZo Jewellery to say thanks! Don’t forget to follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and you can also donate to Zoey’s fundraiser.
