Smoking Cessation – Why and How?

Tobacco use remains the biggest avoidable threat to public health in the UK despite the fact that smoking rates have declined over the last few years. The estimates for deaths attributable to smoking were 106,000 (2005) equivalent to 22% and 16% of all male and female deaths respectively.

Smoking can lead to cancers of the lung, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus, kidney, pancreas and bladder. Smoking is also a significant cause of cardiovascular disease. Mortality from coronary heart disease is 50% higher in smokers and up to 80% in heavy smokers compared to non-smokers.

Smoking is also the main cause of chronic obstructive lung disease and can aggravate a wide variety of non-fatal diseases such as asthma, peptic ulcer, chronic rhinitis, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis.

It is important to understand that STOPPING SMOKING has major health benefits. Smokers that quit before the age of 35 years have a life expectancy only slightly less than a similar-aged non smoker and quitting at any time provides both immediate and long-term benefits.

Stopping smoking is difficult. To succeed, you must seek good advice, support and motivation. Willpower alone is not enough for the majority of smokers. This is because:

Nicotine is chemically addictive
There is a habit-forming aspect to the action of smoking itself.
There is a psychological addiction whereby certain events and places can trigger a desire to smoke.

Banning smoking in the UK in public places has been effective in reducing the sales of tobacco-related products by around 15%. Many smokers used this ban to initiate their own attempt at quitting and it is hoped that the increased peer pressure to stop might lead to a futher reduction in smoking in future years.

It was National No-Smoking Day yesterday, so if you haven’t already, get down to your local pharmacy and have a chat about smoking cessation and get some encouragment to quit.

Good luck…

Smoking Cessation Help

Smoking Cessation Help. Ready to quit smoking and end all nicotine use?

Smoking Cessation and Weight Gain

There are other reasons as well though, and we’ll take a look at them, along with some tips on how you can keep your weight under control.

MoD News – Today is No Smoking Day!

Among those military units holding events today are Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall where ‘Big Cig’ from the Redruth smoking cessation service is joining medics