Final answer:
A COHb level of 12 after three weeks in a smoking cessation program likely indicates that the patient is still smoking (1). Nicotine replacement therapy helps reduce withdrawal symptoms but has a high relapse rate. High COHb levels are concerning for health, particularly for the cardiovascular system, and oxygen therapy can treat carbon monoxide poisoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
After three weeks in a smoking cessation program, if the patient's COHb (carboxyhemoglobin) level is 12, this would indicate that the patient is likely still smoking. COHb is a complex of carbon monoxide and hemoglobin that forms in red blood cells when a person inhales carbon monoxide, such as from cigarette smoke. A level of 12 indicates a significant presence of carbon monoxide, which would not typically be present in such high amounts in the blood of a non-smoker.
Nicotine replacement therapy is a method used to help combat the addictive nature of nicotine by providing a smaller, controlled amount that helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms without producing a 'high'. This method alone, however, has seen about 90 percent of individuals relapsing within 12 months.
It is vital to address that high COHb levels can have adverse health effects, especially on the cardiovascular system, and oxygen therapy is a recommended treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning to restore proper oxygen levels in the blood.
Options such as decreasing nicotine replacement therapy medication or dropping the patient from the smoking cessation program are not indicated solely based on the information provided. Regardless of the COHb level, a more comprehensive approach involving behavioral support and potential adjustments to treatment may be necessary to aid the patient's attempt to quit smoking successfully.