How to stop smoking

Risks of smoking:

Smoking can harm you and others around you (passive smoking) and it has been known to increase the risk of developing many serious conditions some of which can be fatal.

When you smoke you increase the chances of developing many cancers and other health conditions. Research has shown smoking is the cause of 7 out of 10 cases of lung cancer and a leading cause of other cancers such as mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, bladder, bowel, cervix, stomach and pancreas cancer.

Smoking damages the airways and small sacs within the lungs.

This damage starts soon after someone starts smoking and continues to worsen the longer a person continues to smoke. This can lead to serious long-term diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, and it can worsen the symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma, or respiratory tract infections.

Smoking also damages the cardiovascular system which in turn increases the risk of developing conditions such as: coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease.

Smoking tobacco can also reduce fertility in both men and women. In men it can cause erectile dysfunction by reducing blood flow to penis. Whilst, in women it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth during pregnancy.

Ways to stop smoking

Quitting smoking is not easy and it can be challenging but there are various support options available to help when you are ready to quit. Evidence suggests smokers are three times more likely to quit successfully if they use NHS support.

You can contact your GP, pharmacist or phone 0300 123 1044 to make an appointment with and advisor.

Stop smoking aids

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): these products contain nicotine without the tar, carbon monoxide and other carcinogenic chemicals present in cigarette. The NRT is available in the form of lozenges, skin patches, chewing gum, inhalators, tablets and mouth and nasal spray. The treatment depends on your personal preference, age, health conditions and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. They are available to be purchased or prescribed by your doctor or NHS stop smoking services. There is no evidence that any single type of NRT is more effective than another but evidence has shown using a combination of NRT is more effective than using a single product alone.

E-cigarettes/ Vaping: are devices that allows nicotine to be inhaled in the form of a vapour rather than smoke, as they do not burn tobacco they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide and do not contain carcinogenic chemicals. There are different types of e-cigarette available, such as disposable and rechargeable devices with various strength of nicotine. When you are making the decision the most important thing to consider is the strength of the nicotine you choose, which is based on the number of cigarettes you smoke.

E-cigarettes are a relatively new and rapidly evolving product and many people are using e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking. However, vamping in not completely risk free. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive as well as other ingredients such as propylene glycol, glycerine and flavourings. Nevertheless, since May 2016 the safety and quality of e-cigarette are tightly controlled and regulated by the government.

Using e-cigarettes as a replacement for smoking can be highly beneficial to health as they pose a fraction of the risks associated with smoking cigarette.

For more information on quitting smoking you can contact your local pharmacist or GP also visit following websites:

1. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
2. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/
3. https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/smoking/how-can-i-quit