If you smoke, giving up is probably the greatest single step you can take to improve your health.
Impact on Health
Smoking’s impact on public health is huge. In the years from 2007 to 2008 there were 1.4 million UK NHS hospital admissions for diseases caused by smoking.
Smoking is responsible for one in every five deaths in adults aged over 35 in England, and half of all long-term smokers will die prematurely due to a smoking-related disease. In 2008, smoking caused 83,900 deaths in England.
Smoking is a leading risk factor for many debilitating and, in many cases, potentially fatal health conditions such as:
- Lung cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Getting Help
Around 65% of smokers say they want to stop smoking, but most believe they are unable to. However, around half of all smokers eventually manage to give up. Get lots of support from the people around you, speak to your doctor, set a date to give up and throw away all smoking equipment such as ashtrays. If you do relapse try again – don´t give up giving up.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Nicotine is highly addictive, and it is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes people to become addicted to smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works by releasing nicotine steadily into your bloodstream at much lower levels than in a cigarette, without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke. This helps to control the cravings for a cigarette that occur when your body starts to miss the nicotine from smoking.
NRT is the most common smoking cessation treatment and it comes in many different forms, including:
- Transdermal patches (which stick to your skin), available in formulations that release nicotine for either 16 hours or 24 hours
- Chewing gum that is available with either 2mg or 4mg of nicotine
- Inhalators, which look like plastic cigarettes through which nicotine is inhaled
- Tablets and lozenges, which are placed under your tongue
- Nasal spray, which passes nicotine through the lining of your nose
NRT can be prescribed by your GP. All forms of NRT can also be bought from a pharmacist over the counter. There is no evidence that one particular type of NRT is more effective than another, so the one you choose is largely a matter of personal preference.
When deciding, think about the type of smoker you are. For example, are you a heavy smoker who needs a cigarette as soon as you wake up, or are you an occasional smoker who only smokes when they are out having a drink, or after a meal?
Some heavy smokers find a 24-hour patch useful, as it helps to relieve the cigarette craving when waking up. Others prefer using a NRT nasal spray, because it is the fastest-acting form of NRT.
Some smokers find it useful to combine NRT products. For example, they wear patches throughout the day, then use gum or an inhalation to help relieve a sudden craving for a cigarette.
Most courses of NRT last eight to 12 weeks before you gradually reduce the dose and eventually stop. Most people stop using NRT altogether within three months, although heavy smokers may need to use it for longer.
Side Effects of NRT Include:
- Skin irritation when using patches
- Irritation of nose, throat or eyes when using a nasal spray
- Disturbed sleep, sometimes with vivid dreams
- Upset stomach
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Side effects are usually mild to moderate, but if they become particularly troublesome, contact your GP as your dosage or type of NRT may need to be adjusted.
Also, use of the nasal spray can cause sneezing and watering eyes for a short time after use. For this reason, if you are prescribed an NRT nasal spray, do not use it while driving, or just before driving.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and you want to quit smoking, it is best for your and your baby’s health that you stop completely and immediately without any smoking cessation treatment. However, if you feel you cannot stop smoking without help from smoking cessation treatment, your GP may recommend that you stop smoking completely and use NRT to control your cravings.
Nicotine is not good for your baby, but the greatest risk to an unborn baby’s health from smoking is posed by carbon monoxide, which can cause foetal hypoxia (a severe lack of oxygen). So although using NRT is not ideal for your baby, the risks of nicotine are far outweighed by the risks of continuing to smoke.
As with any other patient who wants to stop smoking, the form of NRT you are prescribed will depend on your personal preference, ease of use and your level of addiction.
This information was taken in part from http://www.nhs.uk/
Disclaimer
All content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.