When Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casually revealed during a hot-mic exchange that she had not smoked since the first of May, the remark became one of the most talked-about moments from the gathering of world leaders.
Global Leaders React to Meloni's Smoking Revelation
The reaction from fellow leaders was telling. Congratulations poured in from politicians across Europe and beyond. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney even joked about whether she was using a nicotine patch. The applause was not just about giving up a habit. It was recognition of something millions of smokers know all too well: quitting smoking is incredibly difficult.
What made the moment even more striking was Meloni's own history with the topic. In previous years, she had jokingly suggested that quitting smoking would make her want to kill someone, a remark that reflected the intense withdrawal symptoms many smokers experience. Yet here she was, celebrating more than six weeks without a cigarette.
Her story raises an important question: if one of the world's busiest political leaders can stop smoking, how can ordinary people improve their chances of quitting too?
The Biggest Myth About Quitting: It's Too Late for Me Now
One of the most common reasons people continue smoking is the belief that the damage has already been done. Doctors say that is simply not true. Dr. Koushik N., Consultant Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist at Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, said there is no perfect age to stop smoking. There is no best age to quit smoking, he stated. The sooner they do it, at any age and at any stage, it's better for them. The earlier you quit, it's always better for your lung functions and your overall health.
Research consistently supports this view. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, quitting smoking improves health regardless of age and can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease and several cancers. In other words, whether someone is 25 or 65, the body still benefits from stopping. The lungs may not become brand new again, but they do begin a process of recovery.
Why Quitting Feels So Hard: It's Not Just Willpower
Many smokers blame themselves when they struggle to quit. The reality is more complicated. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that alters brain chemistry over time. It stimulates the release of dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure, reward and motivation. Dr. Koushik explained, Cigarette smoke contains nicotine and nicotine is a stimulant. It is a feel-good factor. Basically, it releases dopamine from the brain. Over a period of time, people become very dependent on nicotine to release this dopamine.
That dependence is why many smokers feel anxious, restless or emotionally uncomfortable when they stop. Once they stop smoking, the nicotine level comes down and the dopamine release does not happen. So they don't feel good. This is the reason why nicotine withdrawal symptoms emerge. Understanding this can be empowering. A smoker who struggles after quitting is not necessarily lacking discipline. Their brain is adapting to the absence of a substance it has relied on for years. That distinction matters because it changes how people approach recovery.
The Irritability, Anger and Mood Swings Are Real, but Temporary
Anyone who has tried to quit smoking knows the experience can be surprisingly emotional. Small inconveniences suddenly feel unbearable. Patience becomes scarce. Even routine conversations can feel exhausting. According to Dr. Koushik, these reactions are among the most common withdrawal symptoms. Patients become irritable, he noted. They become very angry, short-tempered, especially in heavy smokers when they start smoking cessation. These are nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Many people give up during this stage because they assume the discomfort will last forever. It usually doesn't. They can be easily managed through a combination of counselling and treatment modalities. Very easily managed. Experts often recommend warning family members beforehand, planning stress-relief activities and seeking professional support rather than trying to endure withdrawal symptoms alone. The difficult days are often a sign that the body is adjusting, not failing.
Nicotine Patches Are Helpful, but They Are Not the Whole Answer
The image of someone quitting smoking often involves a nicotine patch on the arm. While these therapies can help, doctors say they are only one piece of the puzzle. Dr. Koushik noted, Nicotine replacement therapy is usually the first stage in smoking cessation. This includes patches, gums, lozenges and similar products designed to provide controlled amounts of nicotine without exposing the lungs to cigarette smoke. Some of them do find it very effective, especially those who are not very heavy smokers and those who are not addicted too much.
However, results vary. There is a population of cigarette smokers who do not respond very effectively to these replacement therapies. For those individuals, doctors may recommend additional prescription treatments and structured cessation programmes. The key takeaway is that nicotine replacement therapy is not a magic cure, but it is often a safe and effective first step.
The Smokers Who Succeed Usually Don't Rely on One Strategy
Perhaps the most important insight from smoking cessation research is that successful quitting rarely depends on a single technique. It is usually a combination of motivation, education, treatment and support. As Dr. Koushik puts it, It's a combination of strategies. There is no single strategy as such. He explained that smokers who quit successfully tend to have several things working in their favour. First of all, they should be very motivated. They should be very well informed about the side effects and overall health effects of smoking. Third thing is nicotine replacement therapy and a combination of other pharmacological treatment. Coupled with good counselling, they will be able to achieve good quit rates.
This is why experts often encourage smokers to think beyond simply throwing away a cigarette pack. A practical quit plan may include: choosing a quit date, identifying personal smoking triggers, using nicotine replacement therapy if recommended, seeking professional counselling, preparing for withdrawal symptoms, building accountability through family or friends, and having a strategy for relapse prevention.
Medical Experts Consulted
This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by Dr. Koushik N., Consultant Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist at Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore. Inputs were used to explain how Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's decision to quit smoking highlights the health benefits of giving up tobacco, the challenges people face during nicotine withdrawal, and the medically recommended strategies that can improve the chances of quitting successfully.
