In this article:
Why stop smoking?
About cancer
About lung cancer
Why do people find it so hard to stop smoking?
How can I stop smoking?
What if I simply can’t stop?
Are there any alternatives to smoking which are not harmful?
How Chemist Online can help
Advice & Support
Why stop smoking?
Smokers and non-smokers are aware that stopping smoking is far from easy. In fact, UK surveys reveal that stopping smoking is more difficult than overcoming any other type of addiction.
The reasons for stopping smoking are many:
Reduce the risk of developing cancer (particularly lung cancer which kills over 30,000 people a year in the UK alone)
Keep cardiovascular diseases at bay
Prevent skin problems (such as: excessive wrinkles and yellowing of the skin)
Feel better physically and mentally
Have more energy
Enjoy your food more (through having a better sense of taste)
Participate in sports and other exercise activities without becoming out of breath quickly
About cancer
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the body begin to grow, divide and reproduce in an uncontrollable way. These abnormal cells then invade and destroy healthy tissue, including organs.
About lung cancer
Lung cancer (cancer of the lung) develops where abnormal cells in the lungs grow and multiply at an abnormal rate (rather than growing, dividing and then dying off before being replaced by new cells – the human body’s normal mechanism).
Why do people find it so hard to stop smoking?
Smoking is an addiction. Cigarettes contain a stimulant called nicotine. The body develops a craving for nicotine, particularly in stressful situations/conditions. When you try to stop smoking, the craving is intensified and the need to smoke can become almost unbearably intense.
How can I stop smoking?
If you want to stop smoking there are several approaches/techniques you could try:
Ask yourself why you want to stop smoking and then make a list of all the (aforementioned) benefits.
Set a deadline for when you want to stop. This could be in six weeks’ time, in three months, six months, a year… By setting a smoking cessation date/deadline you are giving yourself a clear target to aim towards. You can also then plan your ‘stopping smoking journey’ and place certain milestones along the route so that you gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to zero by the time your ultimate deadline date arrives.
Planning is so important when it comes to stopping smoking for good. Set yourself goals to work towards which centre around the gradual reduction of the number of cigarettes you smoke each day, then each week…
Be prepared for it to be difficult at times, as withdrawal symptoms kick-in. Most people who have been successful in stopping smoking have got there by taking a ‘one-day-at-a-time’ approach. As each smoke-free, or smoking-reduced day passes, tick it off on a special calendar. This can give you a sense of achievement and make you feel better through seeing some actual ‘evidence’ that you are getting somewhere with your plan.
You may experience some weight-gain as you gradually smoke less. This is completely normal and happens to just about everyone who tries to give up smoking. To combat this, buy low fat foods and try to avoid eating sugary snacks and fizzy drinks. Also, keep your alcohol consumption to a sensible level at this time (try to reduce your drinking if you can).
With successful smoking cessation, awareness is a key factor. Think about environments where you feel a craving for a cigarette most intensely, and then avoid those environments as much as possible.
What if I simply can’t stop?
The key is not to put too much pressure upon yourself as you work towards stopping smoking. This means that you are best to take a gradual, long term approach to complete smoking cessation, and not to be too hard on yourself or to be in despair if you fail in your first few attempts. Human beings are not robots or machines. We have physical, mental and emotional aspects to us which all need to work together to achieve the ultimate goal of stopping smoking for good.
Are there any alternatives to smoking which are not harmful?
Yes. There are a range of alternatives/treatments which can greatly improve your prospects of stopping smoking. The ‘umbrella’ term for these is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (or NRT). Also, another advantage of NRT treatments is that you can buy them as ‘over-the-counter’ products.
NRT treatments generally take the form of: patches, inhalers, tablets and lozenges. They are popular because not only can they be effective – making a massive contribution to an individual’s eventual cessation of smoking cigarettes – but also they can allow you to stop smoking gradually: the most effective approach to complete smoking cessation (rather than trying a unrealistic ‘overnight’ cessation approach which rarely works).
Note: The NHS now has Stopping Smoking Clinics. If you would like to attend, simply ask your GP to refer you.
How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of products available to buy which can help you to stop smoking.
We can also offer you purifying mouthwashes (which contain a a multi-active formula) –
to help freshen breath.
www.chemistonline.co.uk
Advice & Support
Quit – a charity that helps people to stop smoking
Helpline: 0800 00 22 00
Website: www.quit.org.uk
Smokefree
Helpline: 0800 022 4 332
Website: www.smokefree.nhs.uk
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
Tel: 0800 358 7200
Website: www.roycastle.org
British Lung Foundation
Tel: 08458 50 50 20
Website: www.lunguk.org
Macmillan Cancer Support
Helpline 0808 800 1234 (free phone)
Tel: 020 7739 2280 (standard rate)
Website: www.cancerbackup.org.uk
This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.
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