By Feriha
İbrahim
Every March,
the UK UK
Each year,
100,000 deaths are attributed to smoking; it’s estimated that roughly half of
all smokers will eventually die as a result of their addiction. Smoking
accounts for over one-third of respiratory deaths, over one-quarter of cancer
deaths, and about one-seventh of cardiovascular disease deaths.
“Half of all smokers will die as a result of their addition”
If you’ve
decided it’s time to quit, there are a multitude of services and products to
help you succeed. Pick up a pack of NHS Quit Cards or the NHS Smokefree guide,
both available from your local pharmacy or doctor’s surgery. The key to
quitting is being prepared and these guides offer you simple tips and a planner
that take you from wanting to stop smoking to permanently kicking this bad
habit. Here’s how:
Step 1: Think
about quitting. What is it that makes you want to stop smoking? Is it to feel
fitter and fresher, to have more money, or simply to live longer to be around
for your kids? Every positive reason will add to your resolve.
Step 2: Get
prepared. Quitting is more than just willpower; it’s getting practical about
where the likely temptations will arise and putting measures in place to deal
with these. Talk to your pharmacist who can assess your needs and recommend the
best solutions.
Step 3: Set a
date. Many people struggle if they try to stop gradually, so it’s better to
focus on a cut-off point. Make sure the necessary help you need, from the
Smokefree programme to nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), is in place, and
then have your last cigarette.
Step 4: Stop
for good. It can take a few attempts to quit. The key is to keep believing you
can do it and to learn from any failed experiences in order to succeed in the
future. There are multiple techniques and NRTs on the market, so if the ones
you first try don’t work, get help and try another way.
Here are a
few of the NRTs available from your pharmacist to help deal with cravings –
those on a low income may be eligible for help via a free prescription.
Nicotine
patch available as a 16-hour or 24-hour patch. The longer one can affect sleep.
However a 16-hour patch often means needing an NRT booster in the morning as
the patch can take 30 minutes to work.
Nasal spray
is the fastest-working and one of the most effective NRTs, and is particularly
good for heavy smokers. Just spray into your nostril releasing nicotine into
your system, which is quickly absorbed to give you instant relief from
cravings.
Oral strips
are a thin film strip that dissolves on your tongue, again giving instant
relief. Often used with a patch.
Mouth spray:
similar to a nasal spray, but for the mouth and again used in conjunction with
a nicotine patch.
Electronic
cigarettes contain a liquid cartridge with nicotine, solvents and flavours. As
these products have yet to be regulated by the MHRA, it’s best to buy them only
from a reputable pharmacy. Avoid unknown online shops as the chemicals in
e-cigarettes could vary from anti-freeze to carcinogens.
The NHS runs
a 12-week programme, which can be overseen by your pharmacist, helping you
through the planning and treatment process. If you are struggling with
nicotine, your doctor can also prescribe alternative medicines for you, such as
Champix or Zyban. There are also helplines and support groups – so you don’t
need to feel as if you are quitting on your own – and even a Smokefree app so
you can see how much money you’ve saved and get useful personalised tips,
including how to combat cravings, directly to your phone.
It all starts
with one positive decision: that you want to quit smoking. You can do it!
About the author. Feriha İbrahim is a fully
qualified pharmacist, graduating with a Masters Degree in Pharmacy from
.
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