Stop Smoking Treatments
Tobacco affects nearly every organ of the body negatively, and it is the direct or indirect cause of about six million deaths in the world every year. Secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco, causes about three thousand deaths from lung cancer in non-smokers every year. Twenty percent of deaths in adults older than 35 are caused by smoking, and about 50 percent of those who smoke for a long time die early from conditions related to smoking.
Every cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals, and many of those are harmful to your health. Over 60 of those chemicals can cause cancer. Some of the toxins in tobacco smoke are:
- Nicotine
The nicotine in cigarette smoke is extremely addictive, increases the heart rate, dehydrates the skin and creates a surge in dopamine and noradrenaline, hormones in the brain that affect mood and concentration. - Tar
Tar deposits in the lungs, and it contains carcinogens that encourage cancer cells to develop in the body. - Carbon Monoxide
Inhaling this poisonous gas binds it to the haemoglobin in the blood and keeps it from carrying an adequate supply of oxygen through the body. This is particularly dangerous for unborn babies. - Oxidant Gases
These gases make blood clots more likely, increasing a risk of stroke or heart attack. - Benzene
This dangerous chemical can cause a range of cancers like leukaemia and kidney cancer. - Polonium
This substance is extremely radioactive and can cause wide-ranging injury to human tissue.
Quitting Smoking
Giving up smoking has been successful for eleven million people in the UK, and the number of smokers in England has decreased significantly. About 33 percent of adults smoked in 1980, but the number of adult smokers is now about 20 percent. Young adults in their 20s and early 30s have a higher percentage of smokers, and older adults past 60 have the lowest percentage of smokers. An estimated six percent of children between the ages of 11 and 15 smoke regularly even though it is against the law at that age.
People who have stopped smoking report that their physical craving usually stops in less than seven days, but their psychological craving normally lasts longer. After you quit smoking, you will notice that you cough less, breathe easier, feel healthier and have more money. You will also greatly lower your risk of developing illnesses.
Many people began smoking before becoming aware of the devastating health consequences associated with it, and now they would like to stop but have become addicted and find it very hard to quit. About 65 percent of the people who smoke reportedly want to stop, but most of them think they cannot quit. However, about 50 percent of all smokers are finally able to stop. There is help available for people who want to stop smoking, and one of the places to find help is the Co-operative doctor website. This site will provide a free consultation with no obligation to help them determine the best way to go about quitting the habit. If the Co-operative doctor determines that a medication like Champix may help them stop smoking, they will receive prescriptions for the medication.
Stop Smoking Medications - Champix and Zyban
Two licensed medications that may be effective in helping smokers quit their habit are available by prescription.
Champix (Varenicline)
Champix, also known as Varenicline helps diminish nicotine craving because it binds to the brain’s nicotine receptors and eases withdrawal symptoms. It also decreases the feeling of satisfaction a smoker normally gets from cigarette smoking.
Forty-four percent of participants in clinical trial groups stopped smoking after 12 weeks of Champix treatment while only 11 percent of those taking a placebo stopped. The same trials showed that Champix was twice as effective as the other main drug treatment, Zyban, in helping people quit smoking. Those who continued to take Champix for a total of 24 weeks instead of 12 had a higher rate (70 percent) of remaining smoke free than those who stopped taking the drug after 12 weeks (50 percent). The trials were influential in gaining approval for Champix from the European Commission as well as from the FDA. Champix is now available on NHS prescription.
What are the side effects of Champix?
The most common side effect reported is nausea.
Other side effects can include:
- Sleep disturbance
- Unusual dreaming
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Changes in the way food tastes
Who should not take Champix?
You should not take champix if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Champix should also be used with caution if you suffer from the following:
- Epilepsy
- History of psychiatric illness such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
- Decreased kidney function.
Zyban (Bupropion)
Originally formulated as a treatment for depression, users found that bupropion also helped them quit smoking. Although the reason for this is unclear, many experts think the medication helps because it affects parts of the brain involved with addictive behaviour.
Stop Smoking Aids
Smokers who want to quit must have willpower and a strong desire to quit for any stop smoking program to be effective.
The NHS Stop Smoking Service provides a variety of free services for those who want to stop smoking, including treatments, support and advice. The NHS SSS launched in 2000 and has helped save an estimated 70,000 lives since that time.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in patch, pill, lozenge, gum, spray or inhaler form does not require a prescription and may help lessen nicotine withdrawal cravings.
Counselling and support groups can be beneficial, and there are Stop Smoking Clinics with good success rates available on the NHS.
Hypnosis or self-hypnosis techniques and acupuncture have been successful in helping some people stop smoking.
Although they contain no tar or tobacco, electronic cigarettes are not effective for stopping the smoking habit because they contain nicotine.
Stop Smoking Consultation
When you are ready to stop smoking, accept our invitation to a free online consultation to learn about some options that may help you. The Co-operative doctor will evaluate the information you enter on the consultation form and recommend treatments and medications that may help make your efforts to stop smoking successful. If the doctor who assesses your case believes Champix may help you quit smoking, you will receive a prescription for the medication. You can order a trial course of Champix online and receive it the next day. Taking part in our free consultation does not obligate you to buy any medication, and we will keep the information you provide for the consultation private.
It is very hard to stop smoking, but many people have done it and you can too. Getting the proper help will make it easier, and it is never too late to stop smoking. The health benefits are very worthwhile, and you can reward yourself with something nice using the money you save after you quit buying cigarettes.
