Smoking Cessation
If you are a smoker and want to quit we can arrange a
consultation with our smoking cessation specialist. She runs a
clinic at the surgery on Monday afternoons 1:00pm – 3:00 pm. Please
ask at reception.
Beneficial health changes
when you stop smoking
Stop smoking and the body will begin to repair the damage done
almost immediately, kick-starting a series of beneficial health
changes that continue for years.
| Time since quitting |
Beneficial health changes that take place |
| 20 minutes |
Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal. |
| 8 hours |
Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by
half, oxygen levels return to normal. |
| 24 hours |
Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body.
Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
|
| 48 hours |
There is no nicotine left in the body.
Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved. |
| 72 hours |
Breathing becomes easier.
Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
|
| 2 - 12 weeks |
Circulation improves. |
| 3 - 9 months |
Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung
function is increased by up to 10%. |
| 1 year |
Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a
smoker. |
| 10 years |
Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker. |
| 15 years |
Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who
has never smoked. |
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are the physical and mental changes that occur
following interruption or termination of drug use. They are normally
temporary and are a product of the physical or psychological
adaptation to long-term drug use, requiring a period of
re-adjustment when the drug is no longer ingested. In the case of
smoking, some of these are:
| Withdrawal symptom |
Duration |
Proportion of those trying to quit who are affected |
| Irritability/aggression |
Less than 4 weeks |
50% |
| Depression |
Less than 4 weeks |
60% |
| Restlessness |
Less than 4 weeks |
60% |
| Poor concentration |
Less than 2 weeks |
60% |
| Increased appetite |
Greater than 10 weeks |
70% |
| Light-headedness |
Less than 48 hours |
10% |
| Night-time awakenings |
Less than 1 week |
25% |
| Craving |
Greater than 2 weeks |
70% |
Want to find out more?
There are many websites which you can visit which can inform about
the dangers of smoking and about the support available to people who
want to quit. Below are a sample some useful websites – just click
the links to find out more…
www.quit.org.uk/so_you_want_to_quit.pdf
www.bhf.org.uk/giveup/alternative_methods.asp
www.ash.org.uk/
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