Smoking Cessation
Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, many poisonous, and over 50 of these cause cancer. It contains carbon monoxide (found in car exhaust fumes), tar (road surfaces), nicotine (pesticide), acetone (paint stripper), arsenic (ant killer), DDT (insecticide), formaldehyde (embalming fluid) and toluene (industrial solvent and an ingredient of TNT).
Some of the illnesses which have been associated with smoking other than heart disease, stroke, cancers, bronchitis or emphysema:
Chronic gum disease & tooth loss
Oral cancers
Diabetes
Ulcers
Psoriasis
Asthma
Angina
Chrohn’s disease
Fungal eye infection
Cataracts
Infertility
The reported benefits of stopping smoking after …
20 minutes...
blood pressure & pulse return to normal
8 hours...
nicotine & carbon monoxide levels are halved
24 hours...
carbon monoxide is removed & tar starts to clear from the lungs
48 hours...
nicotine is removed & sense of taste/smell is improved
72 hours...
breathing is easier & energy levels increase
2–12 weeks...
circulation improves & exercise is easier
3-9 months...
coughing, wheezing & breathing problems are eased
5 years...
risk of heart attack is halved
10 years...
risk of lung cancer is halved and risk of heart attack is the same as that of a non-smoker.
Medium/long term benefits: risk of heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease are reduced, life expectancy and improved quality of life are increased as stress is reduced. Physical activity is easier as one tires less quickly, senses are more acute and skin tone is improved.
Half of smokers die early because of diseases related to smoking. Quitting now will improve your health, benefit your pocket and improve the lives of those close to you.
Financial costs of smoking…
20 cigarettes a day = £35 per week, equivalent to over £2,330 a year for a basic rate tax payer. Give yourself the equivalent of a massive pay rise when you stop smoking!
After three months the saving could pay for a fortnight’s holiday or a new computer. Over ten years the saving is more than £17,000.
People sometimes worry about stopping smoking because of what they’ve heard from others:
‘I tried to give up once but I started again, so what’s the point in trying to stop again?’
‘I don’t like what I’ve heard about the cravings for a cigarette when you’ve stopped’
‘I don’t want to put on a load of weight – that’s just as unhealthy as smoking isn’t it?’
Our smoking cessation adviser is aware of these feelings and apprehensions and can offer sound advice about ways to deal with cravings for a cigarette, and she can help you develop a plan to ensure a healthy diet to avoid unwanted weight gain.
She is able to offer detailed advice and information about planning to stop smoking and becoming a non-smoker, including how to reward yourself instead of having a cigarette. She can also advice you about the different products and support available to assist you. We can offer acupuncture as part of a smoking cessation programme – please ask at reception about stopping smoking and acupuncture.
It is important to plan the process of becoming a non-smoker and these are the sort of questions to ask yourself:
Consider why you smoke at present
Remind yourself why you decided to stop
What are the situations that trigger the desire for a cigarette?
What could you do to manager the urge to light a cigarette in those situations?
What support have you obtained to help you to stop?
Ask for information, advice and support as the way to maximise the opportunity of giving up for good. For more information please speak to a member of staff at the practice.