Quit smoking for good.

Transcription

1 Quit smoking for good. With our support, you ll be 5 times more likely to give up. quit smoking

2 With our support you ll be 5 times more likely to give up. There are many benefits to giving up tobacco, not just for your own health but also the health of those around you. The harmful effects of smoking are widely known and understood and it is the greatest single cause of illness and premature death in the UK, with approximately 106,000 people dying from smoking-related conditions each year. In spite of these facts, not to mention the financial cost, many smokers still find it hard to give up for good. This is because like all drugs, nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is addictive and can lead to dependency. What s more, smoking doesn t just affect you, husbands, wives, partners, children and friends can all be affected by your second-hand smoke. With the right advice, support and motivation a smoke-free future could be closer than you think. Why should I quit? Smoking puts you at greater risk of developing all kinds of conditions and illnesses, such as those detailed below and around half of all smokers will die because of the habit. Plus, the younger you start, the more likely you are to die of a smoking-related condition, on average 10 years sooner than non-smokers. Mouth and throat cancer Approximately 65% of cancers of the oral cavity (including the lips, tongue and mouth) and pharynx (throat) are caused by smoking in the UK. Lung cancer 80% of the deaths from lung cancer each year are related to smoking. In the UK, almost 3,800 deaths a year are attributable to passive smoking. Source: independent.co.uk Coronary heart disease Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those who have never smoked. Other cancers Including cancer of the nose, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidneys. Fertility issues For both men and women. Can increase incidences of erectile dysfunction for men. There are over 4,000 different chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are poisonous. Source: cancerresearchuk.org Shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing These are common due to the damage to your lungs caused by chemicals. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) At least 4 out of 5 people who develop this disease are, or have been, smokers. It causes the lining of the airways to become inflamed and permanently damaged by smoke. Circulation problems Chemicals cause hardening of the arteries, which can lead to poor circulation, strokes, heart disease and peripheral vascular disease.

3 The dangers of smoking and pregnancy Protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life. It s not only your own health you are damaging Smoking while pregnant can lead to many problems for your unborn baby including: An increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth An increased risk of still birth or death in the first week of life Genetic conditions, such as cleft palate Low birth weight Issues with long-term growth and development Therefore, to protect the future health of your baby, it s vital that you stop smoking as soon as you find out you re pregnant. In fact, because of the way smoking can affect your fertility, stopping sooner can increase your chances of conceiving. Being exposed to someone else s smoke, through passive smoking, can also cause lung cancer, heart disease and all the other conditions smokers are at risk from. 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless. Source: nhs.uk/smokefree Children, who live with smokers and travel in cars where they are exposed to smoke, may develop asthma and ear infections and smoking around babies can increase the risk of cot death. Not only that, but if you smoke, your children are 3 times more likely to smoke when they grow up. So when you consider the effect tobacco could have on your little one s health, it s easy to see how important it is to give up for good. Babies born to smokers are 3 times more likely to have a low birth weight, putting them at risk of numerous health problems.

4 Will I be able to quit? Many smokers find the thought of stopping daunting and worry about things such as whether they ll put on weight or whether they ll fail. Therefore, it may be reassuring to know that on average most people have 3 or 4 attempts at quitting before they give up for good. So if you don t succeed first time around, don t become disheartened keep trying and with the right motivation and support, you ll get there. Tips for smoke-free success List your reasons for stopping Keep your list with you, then whenever you re tempted, take it out and remind yourself why you want to give up. Make a date Rather than vague promises that you ll give up next week or next month, make a definite date and stick to it. Tell others By sharing your intentions to give up with family and friends, they ll be able to support you. Stop, full stop While some think giving up gradually may be easier, it s better to give up completely. Try nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) Some people find NRTs can help them give up. In the form of patches that stick on your skin or chewing gums, lozenges, inhalers or sprays, these prevent smokers suffering nicotine withdrawal when they give up. And although NRTs can t guarantee to make you quit, they can increase your chances of breaking the smoking habit. Quit smoking with our support We ve a huge amount of experience in helping people to stop smoking and we understand that different kinds of support work better for different people. That s why we offer a full range of support including: Advice on nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) such as patches, lozenges, sprays and gums, to help find the right medicine for you We can help you identify the best way to manage your tobacco cravings to prevent you lighting up We can provide a FREE* NHS Stop Smoking Service** with a trained advisor, involving private 1-to-1 consultations and weekly support Do you live in Scotland? If you do, we offer a free NHS Stop Smoking Service in every Scottish Well. That includes free nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, lozenges and gums, which can help save you money. Around 15,000 young people unfortunately start smoking every year in Scotland (healthscotland.com). If you re serious about giving up, speak to our pharmacy team and we ll provide advice to help you find the right support for you. Find out more at: well.co.uk Throw away your lighter By clearing out your lighters, ashtrays and anything else to do with smoking, you re less likely to lapse. Giving up at 30 is as good as adding 10 years to your life. You re up to 4 times more likely to quit for good if you are supported. Source: nhs.uk/smokefree 2 out of every 3 smokers want to quit and all for very different and personal reasons. Source: NHS Smokefree * Prescription charges may apply. **Selected branches only. Please ask a member of the pharmacy team for more details.

5 Which nicotine replacement therapy is right for you? There are lots of different NRTs available, speak to your local Well pharmacy to select the right one for you. Nicotine replacement therapy What type of smoker are you? Attributes Patch Lozenge Gum Smoke regularly throughout the day and want a discreet control of cravings. Want to actively control how much nicotine they take in and when. Want to actively control how much nicotine they take in and when. A once-a-day solution to delivering a controlled amount of nicotine. Available in 4 different strengths and can be used as a replacement to cigarettes to help stop smoking completely, or simply as a method of cutting down. Available in different flavours and 2 different strengths. Can be used to stop smoking completely, or cut down then stop. You ll notice the benefits straight away The main benefit of stopping smoking is that your chances of living a longer, healthier life are increased significantly. It s never too late to stop as your body starts to repair the damage done by nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and other toxins from your very first smoke-free day. Your health will then continue to benefit over the coming weeks, months and even years and the longer you ve been tobacco-free, the more your health will improve. Inhalator For smokers who are likely to miss the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking. Keeping your hands busy, the inhalator consists of a mouthpiece and a replaceable nicotine cartridge. When inhaled it releases nicotine to help relieve any cravings. What happens when you quit? After 72 hours Breathing becomes easier, lungs start to relax and energy levels rise. After 3 9 months Lung function increases by up to 10%, coughs, wheezing and breathing problems reduced. After 10 years Your risk of developing lung cancer is halved. Mouth spray For those who need something that works fast against cravings. Discreet and easy to use, a spray gets to work quickly for fast craving relief. After a month Skin looks better due to improved blood supply. After a year Your risk of suffering a heart attack is halved. After 15 years Your risk of suffering a heart attack becomes the same as someone who has never smoked.

6 How much could you save? Use the table below to see how much money you could save by quitting smoking. * Cost savings after... Cigarettes smoked per day month months ,340 2,679 4,019 1 year 670 1,340 2,679 5,358 8,037 There are even more benefits to be gained from quitting As well as better health, you ll also notice other immediate benefits of being a non-smoker. *Based on a pack of 20 cigarettes costing Source: NHS Choices. After a year you could save enough to buy... Giving up 5 a day: an ipad Giving up 10 a day: a 40" TV Your health and your wealth will benefit when you stop smoking. But that s not all, further benefits include: Your complexion is clearer and your teeth whiter Your general fitness levels will be greatly improved Your clothes, hair, skin and breath no longer smell of smoke Your senses of smell and taste improve You have more money to spend, now you re not paying for cigarettes or tobacco Giving up 20 a day: a family holiday abroad Giving up 40 a day: a new fully fitted kitchen Giving up 60 a day: a new car On average, most people who quit save around 150 each month. Source: NHS Smokefree Find out more at: well.co.uk

7 Your pharmacist can also put you in touch with organisations offering further support and information, including: NHS Choices nhs.uk England NHS 111 nhs.uk/111 Call 111 Wales NHS Direct nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk Call Scotland NHS 24 nhs24.com Call 111 Northern Ireland GP Out of Hours belfasttrust.hscni.net Call (South and East Belfast) Call (North and West Belfast) Quit quit.org.uk Call Smokefree smokefree.nhs.uk Call wellbeing minor ailments prescriptions Well is part of the Bestway Group. Further information can be found at well.co.uk healthcare advice To find out more visit well.co.uk here for your being