 Stop
Smoking
Smoking causes numerous diseases and health problems, some fatal,
among both smokers and non-smokers. For this reason, smoking is
prohibited in a growing number of public places and a wide range
of support services has been developed to help individuals stop
smoking. You should also read about the effects
of smoking on your fitness and health.
Stop Smoking and avoid a smoking habit.
Many smokers say they started smoking before the age of 16, even
though the law prevents anyone selling tobacco, cigarettes or cigarette
papers to those under this age. Avoiding the temptation to smoke
at an early age is therefore important to prevent you developing
a habit.
Reasons to stop smoking
People stop smoking for many reasons, from a desire to improve
their health and to save money, to wanting to appeal to the opposite
sex or reduce any potential harm on someone else’s health.
Stop smoking and improve your health
In the UK one person dies from a smoking-related disease every four
minutes. Smoking causes:
- lung cancer (smoking causes over 80 per cent of all lung cancer
deaths)
- heart disease
- bronchitis
- strokes
- stomach ulcers
- leukaemia
- gangrene
- other cancers eg mouth and throat cancer
It can also worsen colds, chest problems and allergies like hay
fever, bronchitis and emphysema, as well as have unpleasant side-effects
such as wrinkles and bad breath. Smoking can also make you cough,
sneeze or feel short of breath when you exercise, so it is vital
to stop smoking if you want to become fit.
Stop smoking and boost your sex appeal
It’s a myth that smoking helps you lose weight, in fact it
can cause cellulite. Kissing someone with a mouth like an ashtray
isn’t sexy. Stop smoking and increase your attraction to the
opposite sex. Smoking is not cool
Stop smoking and save money
Calculate how much your smoking habit is costing you in terms of
money and you might be surprised how much you could save. If you
stop smoking you will be richer.
Stop smoking and protect other people's health
Breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke, called secondhand
smoke, can also cause cancer.
- smoking around children - children exposed to secondhand smoke
are twice as likely to get chest illnesses like croup, pneumonia
bronchitis and bronchiolitis, and more likely to get ear infections,
tonsillitis, wheezing and childhood asthma
- mothers-to-be and smoking - smoking during pregnancy can affect
both you and your baby’s health, and if you are exposed
to secondhand smoke this can pass on harmful gases and chemicals
to your baby
- smoking in public - smoking is banned by law in many public
places, including: all forms of public transport; theatres; cinemas;
and public buildings
From the summer of 2007, smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed
public places and workplaces, subject to a few exemptions. It will
be even more sensible to stop smoking.
Want to stop smoking?
When willpower alone is not enough, there are various treatments
and plenty of support services to help you kick the habit.
Types of treatment
- non-carcinogenic Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products
can help reduce withdrawal symptoms - they come in the form of
patches, gum, inhaler, nasal spray and lozenges
- the drug bupropion is a non-nicotine tablet which also works
to inhibit nicotine cravings
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