Giving Up Smoking
I have been smoking for many years is it too late to stop?
It's never too late to make the best health decision that you can possibly make and to stop smoking today. The best thing to do if you want to give up smoking is to seize the day and stop.
What do I need to quit smoking?
Firstly, a smoker needs to want to stop smoking when the want to give up smoking. That's the most important aspect of any quit attempt. However, a smoker is four times more likely to be successful at giving up smoking if they get the right type of support for them. Now that support can include a nicotine replacement therapy, or it can include a prescription treatment such as Zyban or Champix. Additionally, support for giving up smoking can also include telephone helpline counseling.
Will making a plan help me quit smoking?
Every single smoker in their attempt to give up smoking is going to be different. There will be some smokers that will want to plan ahead, they will want to get their information ahead and they will want to know exactly what they're doing when they are giving up smoking. There are other smokers that will be spontaneous and want to quit the second that they feel like quitting and giving up smoking. The best thing is that whichever type of person you are, a planner or a spontaneous quitter, that you actually pick up the phone, make the decision to quit, and get the help and support that you need.
Does the same method of giving up work for everyone?
Smokers are very different. There isn't one size that fits all technique when it comes to giving up smoking. It's about finding the right type of treatment and the right type of support to fit in with your life when giving up smoking.
I have tried and failed to quit smoking many times where am I going wrong?
Well many smokers actually will try and try again to give up smoking. Many smokers will find that they will quit smoking and possibly lapse and then quit smoking again. The key is that you don't stop in your attempt at giving up smoking, and that you keep building on those blocks of success. Do not view any sort of lapse as a failure. It's about making sure that you get the right type of treatment. If, for example, one treatment and support mechanism doesn't work for you when you are trying to give up smoking, there is a wide range of other support there and people are there to help.
What are the chances of me successfully giving up if I go cold turkey?
Many smokers think it is a bit of mind over matter, so if they actually want to quit smoking they will go cold turkey. The reality is that only 3% of smokers are actually successful in that quit attempt. A smoker is four times more likely to be successful in giving up smoking if they actually get a wide range of support and treatment. Now that treatment can be nicotine replacement therapy and the support can be as simple as just telling your friends or family that you are going to quit smoking.
Where can I go for support?
There have never been more supports available for smokers who are giving up smoking than there are today. Not only has England joined the rest of the UK to become smoke free, but there is a wide range of NHS stop smoking services. There are also independent charities such as QUIT which provide stop smoking support. The support is there for people giving up smoking. It's just a case of you finding the right treatment and right support for you.
What help can I get from QUIT?
QUIT is an independent charity and our sole aim is to support smokers to stop smoking. Our core service, which is open 12 hours a day 7 days a week is a telephone help line for counseling. The quit counselors are there to provide tailor made support to the individual who is giving up smoking, as what works for you may not work for somebody else. The counselors are there to find what is going to work for you whilst you are giving up smoking. In addition there is also e-mail counseling for those smokers who may not want to actually talk to somebody initially but would want to e-mail.
What help will I get from the NHS stop smoking service?
The NHS stop smoking services will offer a wide range of support to those giving up smoking, which could include pharmacy support or even a stop smoking group. NHS stop smoking services will also provide access into your GP. NHS Stop smoking services that are locally based will be able to provide you nictoine replacement therapy, prescription treatments such as Zyban and Champix, as well as behavioral support whilst you are giving up smoking.
What help can I get from my doctor?
Going to a GP, your local doctor, is a really good way of getting support to help you stop smoking. A GP can actually provide you with behavioral support and signpost you to a local stop smoking service, or to QUIT. Your doctor can also provide you with a prescription treatment such as Zyban and Champix to help you in your attempt to give up smoking.
What is a carbon monoxide monitor?
A carbon monoxide monitor is a very good way of measuring the levels of carbon monoxide that you have in your system. Once a smoker has actually stopped smoking, the carbon monoxide levels are actually significantly reduced after 48 hours and it's one of the many, very quick and immediate health benefits of stopping smoking.
Will I gain weight?
Many smokers will actually not want to stop smoking because they are worried about putting on weight. However at Quit, we are very mindful that actually during a quit attempt, as long as a person remains within a healthy BMI level, the benefits of stopping smoking far outweigh the few pounds that they might put on. During the giving up smoking attempt, once smoking has been dealt with and a smoker has committed to a smoke free life and is feeling stronger about their non smoking, then actually there are a number of ways to lose those couple of pounds that might get put on. But the important thing during a quit smoking attempt is to remain within a healthy BMI level.
Id like to help someone close to me give up what can I do?
It is really important to remember that all smokers who want to stop have to want to give up smoking. While many family members around them may want them to stop, its very difficult to get somebody to give up smoking unless they actually want to. The best thing to do is to talk to them about their smoking, explaining your fears and concerns for them, and if necessary finding out where they can go to get some help and support in the attempt at giving up smoking. However, please remember that the smoker has to have the motivation. The smoker has to have the willpower themself, and while family and friends can support them, it has to be the smoker wanting to stop smoking for themselves.
