Stop Smoking


WANT TO STUB OUT YOUR CIGARETTE FOR GOOD? HELP IS AT HAND IN YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY!

Yes it’s another article about smoking, how bad it is for you and why you should stop. But we already know all that and still we carry on lighting up!

Local pharmacist Richard Lyness of De Faye’s chemists explains’ Since 1999 The Department of Health has invested almost £2million  in services to help people give up smoking and  to raise awareness  of the dangers of both smoking and second hand smoke and a total ban on smoking in public places and workplaces is soon to be introduced.

So why do 27% of men and 26% of women continue to smoke?

The answer to that, says Richard, is that smokers enjoy smoking! It acts on a ‘pleasure centre’ in the brain and induces feelings of pleasure, arousal, improved concentration and reduced anxiety. As nicotine levels start to fall withdrawal symptoms will set in including craving, irritability, restlessness and lack of concentration.

It is easy to see why kicking the habit is no easy task. So in this article,  Richard will explain about a free smoking cessation programme he provides in the Health centre Pharmacy and which is also available in 12 other pharmacies across the East Antrim area which is open to anyone wanting a little extra help to give up and stay stopped.

HOW DOES THIS SCHEME WORK?

The service is provided by a fully trained pharmacist and offers a combination of counselling, support and advice with the use of nicotine replacement therapy, where appropriate. For most patients, the programme lasts for about 8-12 weeks but it will be tailored to each individuals needs.

The first step is a 20 minute consultation with the pharmacist to ascertain the patient’s reasons for quitting and to assess how motivated they are.

The advice given will cover such areas as:

1. GETTING READY TO GIVE UP

The first step is knowing why you want to give up.

Richard would like to stress that ‘a smoker must have made the decision to give up for themselves and must want to quit. If they are doing it simply to please a loved one their chances of success are much lower.’ Richard advises writing down the reasons you want to give up and place this list somewhere where it will remind you every day why you have chosen to stop smoking.

The more prepared you are the more likely you are to succeed. Your pharmacist can help you identify your personal ‘triggers’ for having a cigarette e.g. after a meal or while out with friends. If you know why and when you smoke you can be better prepared for these situations

Your pharmacist will help you choose a Quit date, on which you will give up smoking completely. Richard adds ‘I always advise that the smoker detaches themselves from smoking by getting rid of all their ashtrays, matches and cigarette lighters. Tell your family and close friends that you are trying to quit and rely on them for support.’

2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GIVE UP

The bottom line is that when you stop smoking you will crave cigarettes. You may feel anxious or irritable, have difficulty concentrating or getting to sleep and you may feel a little depressed.

You may also feel hungrier as nicotine is an appetite suppressant and also your sense of taste and smell will begin to improve so you will enjoy food more. You may experience some constipation or you may develop a cough or dry throat.

Your pharmacist can help explain what will happen to you and your body when you quit and give you some tips and techniques to help you through the withdrawal process.

3. HOW TO MANAGE THE URGE TO SMOKE AND TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY STOPPED

One of the most important things to remember, says Richard, is that the craving for a cigarette lasts just a few minutes so it is possible to resist it.

Here are her top tips to help people who are tying to give up smoking:

  • Concentrate how much healthier and fitter you will feel.
  • In the early stages, avoid situations where you know you smoke
  • Make use of  services, such as the one described  in this article, to arm yourself with information on how to get help for those moments when your will power is low.
  • Discuss the use of Nicotine Replacement therapy with your pharmacist.
  • Distract yourself by reading a newspaper or book, taking up a new hobby or doing any activity that you do not associate with smoking.
  • Give your mouth something to do and snack on something healthy, chew on sugar free gum or suck a sugar free boiled sweet.
  • Talk to a friend or to your pharmacist about situations that you are finding particularly difficult.
  • Drink plenty of eater as dehydration makes withdrawal symptoms even worse
  • Practise saying ‘No thanks I don’t smoke!
  • Use the money you are saving on cigarettes to treat yourself
  • Persevere and take one day at a time

4. HOW CAN NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (NRT) HELP?

Richard says’ There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings surrounding the use of NRT. Some smokers may feel that they are somehow ‘weak willed’ if they use it to help them quit, while others feel that it just swapping one bad habit for another and that NRT is as dangerous as smoking.

The truth is that cigarette smoke is composed of more than 4000 chemicals including cyanide, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and a wide range of cancer- causing compounds. Nicotine is addictive but is not implicated in cancer and its safety profile is similar to a product such as caffeine.

In fact, adds Richard, the law has recently changed to reflect the relative safety of nicotine. It can now be used in children as young as 12, is suitable to help pregnant smokers give up and in those who have serious heart problems.

As nicotine in this form does not enter the bloodstream as quickly as from smoking a cigarette, you do not get that ‘hit’. This means that you get the nicotine you crave without the cancer- causing smoke and as you step down the dosage you gradually reduce the need for nicotine until you no longer need it at all.

If the pharmacist decides that you would benefit from using NRT, this will be provided on prescription from the patients GP. This means if you do not normally pay for your prescriptions any NRT supplied will be completely free.

However this is also a very cost-effective programme for people who do pay prescription charges.  A month’s supply will be provided for £6.50 whereas a week’s supply can retail at around £17. There is no need to see your doctor first, however, as everything can be arranged through the pharmacist

Richard would like to point out there is now a wide range of different NRT products available, and any smoker wishing to give up, should be able to  find a suitable and convenient product to help them. Using NRT has been shown to double your chances of success of quitting and success rates for this programme are good so local people should make use of such services if they want to quit smoking

Richard adds ‘The NRT is supplied on a weekly basis, which motivates the patient to keep coming back and also provides a chance for any potential problems or pitfalls to be resolved early on as a pharmacist will be readily available for extra counselling and advice.

Even if your pharmacist decides that using nicotine therapy is not suitable for you, counselling, support and advice can still be provided

5. WHAT HAPPENS IF I SLIP UP?

Many people will make several attempts to quit before they are successful. Don’t panic if you do have the odd cigarette here or there. Don’t beat yourself up about it but instead, focus on getting back on track.

The unique advantage of this pharmacy scheme is the regular contact between the pharmacist and patient as it provides ample opportunity for the pharmacist to offer advice and the patient to seek support.

6. GIVING UP FOR GOOD

Many people find that even months or years after they have successfully given up smoking they will still have some cravings and certain situations may still tempt them to smoke.

The secret is to remind yourself of the reasons why you gave up, how much better you look and feel as a non smoker and how much money you have saved.

Richard says, ‘an integral part of our smoking cessation service is that the pharmacist is always on hand to provide advice and motivation. Even if the patient has successfully completed the programme but is beginning to struggle a few months later, your pharmacist will be happy to take the time to put you back on the straight and narrow!

The benefits of this programme are that people who are considering giving up smoking can come along to their own community pharmacist, at a time that suits themselves, and discuss their own situation and tailor a quit programme that is specific to them.

But to end the article on a positive note lets flip the coin and focus on the benefits of giving up smoking!

In addition to all of this, your skin will look brighter and younger, your eyes whiter and clearer and you will slow the formation of wrinkles especially around your eyes and mouth. Your breath, hair, clothes and home will smell a lot better and you won’t have that unsightly staining on your skin. You will have more energy, your sex life will improve (smoking increases the risk of impotence by 50% for men in their 30’s and 40’s) and you will have more money in your pocket!

So no more excuses, make the decision to quit and start feeling better today!