Smoking

Why is smoking so bad?

We all know that smoking is bad for our health but you may be surprised just how harmful smoking is. Smoking can harm your body in many ways, such as:

Increasing your risk of a stroke
Increasing your risk of heart attacks
Increasing your risk of heart disease
Increasing your risk of cancer
Increasing your risk of respiratory problems
Increasing your risk of eye sight damage

Smoking causes over 50 different diseases, most of which are fatal. One in two long term smokers will die prematurely as a result of their smoking and for every death there are 20 more smokers suffering from a smoking related disease.

You may know that cigarettes contain nicotine, which is the addictive substance, but they also contain over 4,000 chemicals including 69 cancer-causing chemicals such as arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde.

Is there any good news?

Stopping smoking can reverse many of the above health risks. Your body will start to feel the benefits almost immediately.

After 1 day Your lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking rubbish
After 2 weeks Your circulation will improve and your energy levels increase
After 1 year Your risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker

You will be surprised how much money you spend on cigarettes. Work out how much you spend on cigarettes in a
day, a week and a year and start to plan all the nice things you could treat yourself to with the money saved.

What help do I need?

There are many types of help available to smokers that want to quit. It is worth remembering that only 3% of patients quit by using willpower alone. Stopping smoking is not easy but it can be done. To be successful you have to want to stop yourself.

You may need more than one attempt to stop smoking completely but each time you try you’ll learn more about your habit and feel better prepared for the next attempt. Some people combine different types of help to increase their chances of stopping successfully such as group support, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and on-line support. It is important that your friends and family know you are trying to quit smoking so you can get their support.

Having a chat with your pharmacist or specially trained pharmacy staff can encourage and help you to quit. They will take the time to work out your addiction level, understand why you smoke and stick with you to increase your success of quitting.

Groups run by health professions can help you feel less alone in attempting to quit smoking. Sometimes being with other people who are trying to stop can give you mutual support, share experiences and give you helpful tips. The NHS run free group sessions so ring 0800 1690169 for some expert advice.

NRT can double your chances of successfully quitting. There are many types available to buy so ask your pharmacist to explain them to you and help you to choose the best one for you.

Did you know?

Smoking kills over 300 people a day, that's about 13 people in every hour
Over 450 children start smoking every day
Did you know there are 12 million ex-smokers in the UK?

Can I just cut down the amount I smoke?

If you feel that you can not stop smoking altogether then you can cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke. You can also use some form of NRT to help you do this. You may then find it easier after a while to stop smoking completely.

What withdrawal symptoms will I get?

Everyone is different and will experience different withdrawal problems. Symptoms can include irritability, restlessness, depression, difficultly in concentrating, sleep disturbances, increased appetite and craving for tobacco. Lots of people start smoking again because they can not cope with these symptoms but they are only temporary and most mood disturbances will revert back to normal within three or four weeks. Withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your body is starting to recover. Remember that smoking is life threatening but withdrawal symptoms are not!

What Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products are available?

All NRT products are available on prescription and can also be bought at pharmacies. These products reduce both the withdrawal symptoms and the cravings to smoke.

Patches:

Nicotine patches are flesh coloured or clear that you stick on your skin. They deliver a constant supply of nicotine throughout the day. The 16 hour patch releases nicotine during the 16 hours you are awake and the 24 hour patch provides a steady flow during the night also. The 24 hour patch is used by people who usually get up in the night for a cigarette. Both patches should be applied to different areas of the skin each day to avoid skin irritation.

Gum:

When you chew the gum nicotine is released and absorbed into the body. It is important to use it properly, use the technique of ‘chew-rest-chew’ to get the full benefit from this product. Nicotine gum helps you control your craving whenever you feel the urge to smoke. The gum is also ideal for those people who want to cut down by replacing some of their cigarettes with gum.

Lozenges:

Like the gum, lozenges are ideal for people who want to tackle cravings when they strike! They are a useful and
effective alternative for people who do not like chewing the gum. They are like a sweet that you suck slowly. You gradually reduce the number of lozenges you suck daily until you don’t need any more.

Microtabs:

These are small white tablets that you place under the tongue which then releases nicotine slowly as they dissolve. They work in a similar way to the gum and lozenge to tackle cravings when they are high.

Inhalator:

The inhalator is helpful when the body craves for nicotine and is ideal for people who like to hold a cigarette in
their hand. The inhalator looks like a cigarette which you put a cartridge containing nicotine inside. You simply suck on the inhalator when you get a nicotine craving which then delivers a puff of nicotine vapour into the mouth and throat.

Nasal spray:

This releases a concentrated, fast-acting dose of nicotine into the nostril and is ideal for those people who have very strong cravings. The nicotine is absorbed very quickly through the lining of the nose but this can irritate the nose and throat of some people. The amount of spray used each day should be reduced until you don’t need any more.

Zyban and Champix:

These are non-nicotine based products. They work by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms and also by diminishing the sense of satisfaction associated with cigarette smoking. Both products are available on prescription only.

3 EASY WAYS TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

Take more exercise while trying to quit, it can increase your chances of being successful. Exercise also lifts your
mood and avoids weight gain.
Make sure you replace cigarettes with healthy foods such as fruit so you do not put on too much weight
Take 15 minutes each day just for you. Sit somewhere quiet and relax.

Your Numark pharmacist can help you:

understand the risks of smoking
chose the right nicotine replacement product
deal with cravings
get in touch with support groups

For further informaton on helping to quit smoking ask your Numark pharmacist for advice.

Where can you find more information?

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not replace medical advice.

If you want to find out more, or are worried about any medical issue or symptoms that you may be experiencing, please contact your local Numark pharmacist or see your doctor.

Pharmacy Finder