It’s never too late to turn over a new leaf and so if you’ve recently been thinking about stopping smoking it’s time to bite the bullet. This handy article has some great tips about how to quit and there’s no time like the present.
Most people see New Year’s Day as the perfect time to start resolutions – cutting down on the booze, eating more healthily, going to the gym, quitting smoking. But if your New Year’s resolutions went out the window in the middle of January, why not start them up again now spring has sprung?
One of the most life changing things you can do for yourself and those around you is to give up smoking. There are literally no health benefits to the so-called cancer sticks, so it really is important to knock this horrible habit on the head.
Around 100,000 people in the UK die of smoking-related illnesses every year such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. So it’s not a surprise to learn that your health will receive a massive boost when you stop smoking – and it’s never too late to make the change.
According to patient.co.uk, if you give up when you’re middle aged, your increased risk of death from a smoking related disease is much reduced. If you’re in doubt about the health risks involved in smoking, just think that every time you ingest cigarette smoke, you are breathing in nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide – lovely!
Remember also that the health implications of smoking don’t just affect you. Breathing secondary smoke is extremely dangerous for other people, especially children - and smoking whilst pregnant can cause huge problems for foetuses including a low birth weight which is a main cause of illness and disability. It can even lead to stillbirth, while smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of cot death once the baby has been born.
Aside from the health risks, smoking costs a fortune – the average price of a packet of cigarettes has risen by 37p due to the recent Budget meaning that you’ll now be forking out around £7.46 for a pack of 20. And let’s not forget it doesn’t smell very nice either, particularly for non-smokers around you.
The good news is that help is at hand if you would like to stop smoking. There are services to quit smoking in Essex, Edinburgh, Eastbourne and Exeter so there’s no excuse not to try to give up this spring. You may be offered patches or gum, or perhaps medication that will make cigarettes taste awful at the same time as turning off the receptors in your brain that make you crave them. Alternatively, you can try electronic cigarettes, which help you slowly wean yourself off by decreasing the nicotine dosage over time.
Advisors may also suggest that you try diversion tactics when you are craving a cigarette. If you always want one while you are walking to work, why not try taking a different route to break the association of your regular routine? Or if you find you can’t go for a drink without lighting up, try avoiding the pub for a few weeks until you feel strong enough to be there without a cigarette. Above all, don’t let your friends or work colleagues weaken your resolve – if there is someone you normally smoke with in the office, tell them you’re trying really hard to quit so they won’t be tempted to talk you into having a cheeky one at lunchtime.
It’s important to choose the quitting option that’s right for you – don’t concern yourself with what has worked for your mum’s best friend or your partner’s brother. Do what feels best for you and you alone, and you will be well on your way to quitting for good!
Most people see New Year’s Day as the perfect time to start resolutions – cutting down on the booze, eating more healthily, going to the gym, quitting smoking. But if your New Year’s resolutions went out the window in the middle of January, why not start them up again now spring has sprung?
One of the most life changing things you can do for yourself and those around you is to give up smoking. There are literally no health benefits to the so-called cancer sticks, so it really is important to knock this horrible habit on the head.
Around 100,000 people in the UK die of smoking-related illnesses every year such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. So it’s not a surprise to learn that your health will receive a massive boost when you stop smoking – and it’s never too late to make the change.
According to patient.co.uk, if you give up when you’re middle aged, your increased risk of death from a smoking related disease is much reduced. If you’re in doubt about the health risks involved in smoking, just think that every time you ingest cigarette smoke, you are breathing in nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide – lovely!
Remember also that the health implications of smoking don’t just affect you. Breathing secondary smoke is extremely dangerous for other people, especially children - and smoking whilst pregnant can cause huge problems for foetuses including a low birth weight which is a main cause of illness and disability. It can even lead to stillbirth, while smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of cot death once the baby has been born.
Aside from the health risks, smoking costs a fortune – the average price of a packet of cigarettes has risen by 37p due to the recent Budget meaning that you’ll now be forking out around £7.46 for a pack of 20. And let’s not forget it doesn’t smell very nice either, particularly for non-smokers around you.
The good news is that help is at hand if you would like to stop smoking. There are services to quit smoking in Essex, Edinburgh, Eastbourne and Exeter so there’s no excuse not to try to give up this spring. You may be offered patches or gum, or perhaps medication that will make cigarettes taste awful at the same time as turning off the receptors in your brain that make you crave them. Alternatively, you can try electronic cigarettes, which help you slowly wean yourself off by decreasing the nicotine dosage over time.
Advisors may also suggest that you try diversion tactics when you are craving a cigarette. If you always want one while you are walking to work, why not try taking a different route to break the association of your regular routine? Or if you find you can’t go for a drink without lighting up, try avoiding the pub for a few weeks until you feel strong enough to be there without a cigarette. Above all, don’t let your friends or work colleagues weaken your resolve – if there is someone you normally smoke with in the office, tell them you’re trying really hard to quit so they won’t be tempted to talk you into having a cheeky one at lunchtime.
It’s important to choose the quitting option that’s right for you – don’t concern yourself with what has worked for your mum’s best friend or your partner’s brother. Do what feels best for you and you alone, and you will be well on your way to quitting for good!
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