You may have thought to yourself someday about the implication of smoking and tried to quit, but it seems quite difficult for you. Well, you might want to read this.
Report has it that a company named, Carrot, was recently given approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its technology-driven plans to help millions of people quit smoking. The company which offers a combination of Mobile coaching program called Pivot and an FDA-cleared Carbon Monoxide breath sensor for indoor usage, is meant to help those who want to quit smoking, access to best tools and support, and to help those who are not yet ready to develop confidence and motivation for change.
The Pivot, which is the mobile App comprises of four main components designed to engage, raise awareness, and help users achieve long-lasting change. They include:
i. Mobile Breath Sensor
It is a bluetooth enabled sensor that is used to measure Carbon Monoxide (a chemical in cigarette smoke) in smokers, to inform them about their smoking behavior.
ii. Personal Dashboard
It displays the data log of cigarettes and breath samples of cigarette users, and other metrics to help raise awareness of their smoking behaviors and also track changes in real time.
iii. Tailored, Evidence-based Content
It delivers established, evidence-based counseling and quit strategies recommended by the Medical Community and the US-Department of Health and Human Services. It does this through the Smartphone Pivot App.
iv. Personal Coaching
Cigarette users receive personalized support and feedback from health coaches trained in smoking cessation, to help them develop the motivation, confidence and skills they'll need for lasting change.
The President and CEO of Carrot, said that Carrot is meant to help share positive messages to the affected persons rather than admonishing them. He said that the program is designed to help all smokers, and not just those who are planning to stop for a little while. "We don't villify smokers", he said.
Updated statistics by the World Health Organisation revealed that tobacco kills more than 7 million people each year. More than 6 million of those deaths are the result of -direct tobacco_, while around 890,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Nearly 80% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
In conclusion, I will like to borrow the words of Christy Turlington "I would be very proud to have influenced anyone that I know and don't know to quit smoking".
Health is key!!
Thank you, and kindly Upvote and Follow me @jovi, if you find this information useful. Your contribution will be most appreciated.