Smoking Cessation
Stopping Smoking
It is probably one of the hardest things you will ever have to do but the benefits are enormous. Aside from the personal health improvements and reductions to your risk of illness, disability or death, there are the added issues of protecting the people you care about by not exposing them to second hand smoke and providing a positive example to younger people.Smoking is probably one the most harmful habits that your body can be exposed to – there are over 4,000 chemicals in one cigarette and aside from the 3 main components; nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide, there are other frightening ingredients that you might not know about.
Benzene - a solvent used in fuel and chemical manufacturing
Formaldehyde - a very poisonous liquid that is used to preserve dead bodies
Ammonia - a chemical found in cleaning fluids
Hydrogen cyanide - a poison used as a fumigant to kill ants. It is also used to manufacture plastics, dyes, and pesticides
Cadmium - an extremely poisonous and radioactive metal found in batteries
Acetone - a corrosive liquid solvent found in nail polish remover
Arsenic - another ingredient in rat poison
By stopping smoking you’ll;
- Reduce your risk of gangrene or amputation caused by circulation problems.
- Reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear.
- Improve your fertility and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby.
- Improve your breathing and general fitness.
- Enjoy the taste of food more.
- Get rid of that stale tobacco smell from your hair, skin and clothes.
- Look attractive with healthy, glowing skin, no tobacco stains on your teeth and fewer wrinkles – smoking causes premature aging.
- Have a fresh, attractive home without nicotine stains on the walls and reduce your risk of starting a house fire or burning your clothes.
Timed health benefits from the moment you quit the habit:
In 20 minutes: Your heart rate drops. 
In 12 hours: The carbon monoxide (a gas that can be toxic) in your blood drops to normal.
In 2 weeks to 3 months: Your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lungs are working better.
In 1 to 9 months: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease and your lungs start to function better, lowering your risk of lung infection.
In 1 year: Your risk for heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
In 5 years: Your risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who doesn't smoke.
In 10 years: Your risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker's. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decreases.
In 15 years: Your risk of heart disease is now the same as someone who doesn't smoke.
In 12 hours: The carbon monoxide (a gas that can be toxic) in your blood drops to normal.
In 2 weeks to 3 months: Your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lungs are working better.
In 1 to 9 months: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease and your lungs start to function better, lowering your risk of lung infection.
In 1 year: Your risk for heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
In 5 years: Your risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who doesn't smoke.
In 10 years: Your risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker's. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decreases.
In 15 years: Your risk of heart disease is now the same as someone who doesn't smoke.
Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are the physical and mental changes that occur following interruption or termination of drug use. They are normally temporary and are a product of the physical or psychological adaptation to long-term drug use, requiring a period of re-adjustment when the drug is no longer ingested. In the case of smoking, some of these are:
Weight gain
The possibility of weight gain is often of particular concern to those who want to give up smoking. Weight gain is often progressive for a period of at least a year and, on average, ex-smokers will gain around 5kg in weight. However, this is the weight gain made without recourse to any special attempts at dieting or exercise and it presents a minor health risk when compared to the risk of continued smoking. In addition, improved lung function and some of the other health benefits of giving up smoking are likely to make exercise both easier and more beneficial.
Support
The chances of success of a given quit attempt are unfortunately very low, which is why it is vital to keep trying. Most ex-smokers had to try many times before they succeeded. Fortunately there are many things that smokers can do to improve the odds. These fall into two categories: medications and psychological support.
- Medications
Medications aim to help smokers to stop by reducing the chemically-driven need to smoke while at the same time not themselves providing the same satisfaction as smoking and so not becoming the object of dependence. The assumption is that all the time that the smoker is not taking in nicotine from cigarettes the brain is gradually getting back to normal so that when the course of medication is completed, most smokers will be able to deal with the motivation to smoke without help.
Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) usually taken for 8 to 12 weeks, these include nicotine chewing gum, skin patch, lozenge, nasal spray or ’inhalator’. They can be bought f rom pharmacists or some shops or obtained on prescription. They are designed to reduce the chemical need to smoke but not to provide the same satisfaction as smoking and so are much easier to come off. Clinical trials have consistently found NRT helps between an additional 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 quit attempts to succeed above those that would have succeeded anyway. Thus the effect is small but very valuable.
Bupropion (Zyban) is only available on prescription as a course of tablets lasting around 8 weeks. Zyban is safe for most healthy adults but there are side effects, the most serious of which is the risk of seizures (fits). This risk is estimated to be less than 1 in 1000 but other less serious side effects such as insomnia, dry mouth and headaches are more common. Clinical trials have found that Zyban helps about 1 in 10 quit attempts where it is used to succeed over and above those that would have succeeded anyway.
Varenicline (Champix) comes as a course of tablets lasting 12 weeks with the option of a further 12 weeks for those that are not smoking at the end of the initial treatment. Like NRT and Zyban, it works by reducing the need to smoke caused by loss of nicotine and also makes cigarettes less satisfying. It was launched in the UK in December 2006 and is available on prescription. Clinical trials have found varenicline to be more effective in helping people stop smoking than either bupropion or placebo. The initial course helps an estimated 1 in 7 quit attempts to succeed over and above those that would have succeeded anyway and a further 12 week course helps another 1 in 20 to achieve long-term success. A Cochrane review of varenicline trials concluded that the drug increased the chances of successfully quitting approximately threefold compared to unassisted quitting.
Varenicline (Champix) comes as a course of tablets lasting 12 weeks with the option of a further 12 weeks for those that are not smoking at the end of the initial treatment. Like NRT and Zyban, it works by reducing the need to smoke caused by loss of nicotine and also makes cigarettes less satisfying. It was launched in the UK in December 2006 and is available on prescription. Clinical trials have found varenicline to be more effective in helping people stop smoking than either bupropion or placebo. The initial course helps an estimated 1 in 7 quit attempts to succeed over and above those that would have succeeded anyway and a further 12 week course helps another 1 in 20 to achieve long-term success. A Cochrane review of varenicline trials concluded that the drug increased the chances of successfully quitting approximately threefold compared to unassisted quitting.
- Psychological support
Psychological support aims to strengthen the smoker’s motivation not to smoke and to advise on ways on avoiding, escaping from or minimising urges to smoke with simple practical strategies.
Stop-smoking clinics. Most GP surgeries either run or can refer smokers to free NHS specialist-facilitated stop smoking groups. Although many smokers may be put off by the idea of groups, people who attend them report that they are enjoyable social occasions in which they learn a lot from each other about how to tackle problems associated with stopping smoking and their resolve not to smoke is strengthened by not wanting to let the group down. Clinical trials have found that such groups help about 1 in 20 quit attempts to succeed over and above those that would have succeeded anyway. Most smokers attending these groups will also use medication to maximise their chances of success.
Stop-smoking clinics. Most GP surgeries either run or can refer smokers to free NHS specialist-facilitated stop smoking groups. Although many smokers may be put off by the idea of groups, people who attend them report that they are enjoyable social occasions in which they learn a lot from each other about how to tackle problems associated with stopping smoking and their resolve not to smoke is strengthened by not wanting to let the group down. Clinical trials have found that such groups help about 1 in 20 quit attempts to succeed over and above those that would have succeeded anyway. Most smokers attending these groups will also use medication to maximise their chances of success.
Individual face-to-face support. All GP surgeries should be able to provide or refer smokers to a stop smoking advisor to help with stopping smoking. This may be provided by a fully trained specialist who is employed by the NHS for this role or a practice nurse, pharmacist or other health professional who has received training and does this as well as their other activities. The idea is to give practical advice and support in a non-judgmental manner. The effectiveness of this support probably varies with the advisor but clinical trials have found that when given by fully trained specialists it can help about 1 in 20 quit attempts to succeed in addition to those that would have succeeded anyway. Most smokers seeing an advisor will also use medication to maximise their chances of success.
Telephone support. Some NHS stop smoking services (accessible through GPs) provide psychological support over the telephone. QUIT is a national charity that has a free-phone number where smokers can get telephone support. This is very similar to the kind of support offered by stop smoking advisors attached to GP surgeries but obviously without the need to travel to appointments. Clinical trials have found that this kind of support has a similar level of effectiveness to face-to-face support. QUIT’s helpline number is 0800 002200. There is also a Free NHS smoking helpline: 0800 0224332.
QUIT
Telephone support. Some NHS stop smoking services (accessible through GPs) provide psychological support over the telephone. QUIT is a national charity that has a free-phone number where smokers can get telephone support. This is very similar to the kind of support offered by stop smoking advisors attached to GP surgeries but obviously without the need to travel to appointments. Clinical trials have found that this kind of support has a similar level of effectiveness to face-to-face support. QUIT’s helpline number is 0800 002200. There is also a Free NHS smoking helpline: 0800 0224332.
QUIT
QUIT is the UK's only charity whose main aim is to offer practical help to people who want to stop smoking. Quitting is not easy. QUIT does not lecture people but just gives down to earth help and advice about stopping for good.
Call the QUITLINE to find out more about quitting or if you need a friendly and supportive ear to listen.
For more information contact;
QUIT
211 Old Street
London
EC1V 9NR
t 020 7251 1551
w http://www.quit.org.uk
e info@quit.org.uk
Quitline 0800 00 22 00
211 Old Street
London
EC1V 9NR
t 020 7251 1551
w http://www.quit.org.uk
e info@quit.org.uk
Quitline 0800 00 22 00
