Top Tips to Stop Smoking

Pat Purvis, Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator, recommends that these top tips are offered to people who are trying to stop smoking:

• Tell your friends and family about your attempt to quit and how you would like them to encourage you.
  
• Write down all the reasons why you want to stop and keep this note handy for quick reference to keep you motivated, for example, in the pocket of a favourite jacket. Concentrate on how much better you will feel when you are free from your addiction – healthier, safer, fitter.
  
• Arm yourself with information on how to get help for moments when your resolve is weakening. For example, have details for the Smokers’ Helpline 0800 858585, or the number for your local pharmacy smoking cessation clinic handy.
  
• Find out about the drug treatments that could help you. You can get Nicotine Replacement Therapy – speak to your GP about your options.
  
• Use the money you are saving by not smoking to buy yourself treats.
  
• Practice saying ‘No thanks, I don’t smoke’.
  
• Persevere – Not everyone is successful the first time they try to give up. The important thing is to keep trying.
  
• If you are making progress and have managed to stay off cigarettes be sure to tell the people around you – their congratulations and support will keep you motivated.

Benefits of Quitting

After ..

• 20 minutes - Blood pressure and pulse return to normal
  
• 8 hours - Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal
  
• 24 hours - Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body
  
• 48 hours - There is no nocitine left in the body
  
• 3-9 months - Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases
  
• 1 year - Risk of heart attack falls to half that of a smoker
  
• 10 years - Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker
  

Smoking in Pregnancy

Smoking in pregnancy can result in ill health for both mother and baby.

Smoking while pregnant:

• Increases the risk of miscarriage by 25%
• Increases the risk of developing problems with the placenta by 50%
• Increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy 1.5-2.5 times
• Increases the risk of stillbirth

The harmful effects of smoking while pregnant don’t stop at the mother. All the chemical and toxic substances from smoking get passed into the baby’s bloodstream from the mother.

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of foetal and infant ill health and death. Babies of mothers who smoke are at increased risk from:

• Slow growth and low birth weight due to reduced amount of oxygen getting to the baby. This increases the risk of illness and there is a strong association between low birth weight and death in infancy.
• Premature birth
• Stillbirth
• Cot death
• Breathing problems and wheezing in the first six months of life
• Ill health
• Asthma
• Lung problems and chest infections

Many of the above conditions are also associated with passive smoking while pregnant.