Top Tips to Quit Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for you. It is the “greatest single cause of illness and premature death in the UK”. However, it is a hard habit to give up. You are no longer allowed to smoke in offices, pubs, restaurants and even your car if it’s being used for work or if you have minors with you. So, given the limited places you can smoke, it’s getting easier to quit. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking:
Get rid of all your cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters
Use willpower and determination, make it a challenge or find something that motivates you enough like becoming a parent – make a list of reasons to quit
Think positive
Get support from local services
Have small goals, start with reducing your intake and rewarding yourself when you achieve your goals.
Keep your hands and mouth busy – like drinking with a straw or using a stress ball
Tell your friends and family
Use medicines and alternatives (such as Nicorette) to help with the nicotine addiction (which is a drug) – your GP will have all the info you need.
Get fitter, to have endurance you need to breath better
Join a campaign like the NHS 28 day Stoptober Challenge
Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms like headaches, anxiety, irritability and other feelings that make you feel unwell. They will peak after 24 hours and gradually ease over 2-4 weeks. Weight gain is a normal side effect when you stop smoking, click here for tips to help you reduce weight gain and quit smoking.
Did you know that passive smokers, the people who are around you when you are smoking (who are not smoking), are also affected and can develop health risks, especially children? Click here for more info.
For more info on tips to help you stop smoking, click here
The benefits when you stop smoking are many. Here are some things you can expect:
After 72 hours – breathing is easier
After 1 month – your skin improves
After 3-9 months – lung function increases, reducing coughs and wheezing
After 1 year – reduced risk of heart attacks
After 10 years – reduced risk of lung cancer
Why not go on a holiday or do something else you would really enjoy with the money you save when you have quit smoking?
