Top tips on how to quit the deadly habit from our friends at Lloyds Online Doctor
We all know that stopping smoking will lengthen your life and reduce your risk of cancer as well as padding your wallet out. But did you know smoking is a big no-no for your body and between-sheet action? Smelly breath, crow’s feet, yellow skin and the deadly ‘smoker’s kiss’ are all brought on from the fags and should be enough to make you stub out forever. As well as this, non-smoking guys have better sex and more erections. So why wait? Dr Gigi Taguri from Lloyds Online Doctor is sharing her top tips to help you target your smoking addiction head-on.
I’m in college and I’m afraid if I give them up I’ll put up weight – what can I do?
Some people report weight gain after giving up cigarettes, but it’s important not to let this prospect put you off the idea of stopping smoking. It’s not the actual cigarettes that were making you thinner. In many cases when people give up they replace the cigarette with food, i.e. swapping a fag for a cup of coffee or biscuit. It’s possible that now you could be filling the cigarette gap with snacking again. I know weight gain can be a worry but I can guarantee that a slight weight gain is far less of a risk to your health than if you were to continue smoking. Your priority should be to be to beat the cigarettes and worry about your weight gain after you have quit. You should try and remember that if you smoke, stopping is probably the biggest single step you will take to improving your lifestyle, and that after just a few weeks, your body will already be in much better condition. Your hair, skin and breath will improve as more oxygen flows around your body. This will also make it easier and more enjoyable to exercise, and reduce your stress levels.
Some people are more likely than others to put on weight when they stop smoking and you are more at risk of weight gain if you are already very overweight or are a heavy smoker and drinker. To reduce the risk of putting on too much weight, you could try exercising alongside your stop smoking plan, but I think it’s better to tackle smoking first before trying to lose any weight gained while quitting. If you’re unsure where to start, we can provide a prescription for a stop smoking medication called Champix. Some people report low mood as a side effect and this medication may not be suitable if you have a history of depression. Other common side effects include abnormal dreams, headaches, difficulty sleeping and nausea. Consult your GP or pharmacist before taking this. Remember, whilst quitting may lead to short-term weight gain, this is not guaranteed and don’t forget that being cigarette free will bring about several benefits on the inside and out, and that you will be healthier than you have been for a long time.
I am moving to e-cigarettes. I have started vaping (using e-cigarettes) for the last month. I was a heavy smoker before this and have seen vast improvements in my health since then. What is your opinion on vaping?
Vaping (or electronic cigarettes) are battery powered cartridges filled with nicotine which emit a vapour free of the harmful substances such as tar found in normal cigarettes and as a result, they are viewed by many as a less harmful substitute to the traditional cigarette. However, the e-cigarette does contain other harmful substances such as nicotine which is extremely addictive. You should also remember that you are not really breaking your addiction or behavioural habit of smoking so it will be easy to switch back to cigarettes. There is also very little evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes actually help people give up smoking, as nicotine addiction can be transferred from real cigarettes to electronic ones. The main benefits of not smoking are that you are reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer and although this risk is likely to be lower with e-cigarettes, you are still inhaling chemicals into your lungs. For this reason the medical jury is still out on the long term effects associated with e-cigarettes. I’d advise you to use a nicotine replacement therapy such as gum – your pharmacist will be able to advise you on this.
How do I begin getting off the smokes, please?
Starting to break a long-term habit such as smoking can be very difficult at first, but by taking on-board some of my tips below, you can try and resist the temptation and be one step closer to living a cigarette-free life.
1. Picture your goal
Try and work out what the main benefit to you giving up smoking will be. Is it cosmetic? Do you want whiter teeth? Fresher breath and hair? Perhaps you’d like to feel fitter, exercise better and breathe more easily. Giving up smoking can do all this and more. If you need any additional motivation, the HSE-run website quit.ie reports that most smokers will lose between 10-15 years of their lives before they die, and that one in every two smokers will die from a smoking related disease.2. Break the cycle
Smoking is a physical addiction and psychological habit which is why it can be so difficult to stop. The nicotine provides a ‘feel-good’ (and some report stress-relieving) effect on the brain which many see as a way to cope with stress, depression, boredom or anxiety. Smoking itself is a habit which may be ingrained in your daily life. To successfully quit, you’re going to have to address both the addiction and habits that accompany smoking. If you’re stressed or depressed ask yourself why that is, and what you can do instead to alleviate that stress. If you smoke at the same time every day, try changing your routine as you begin to kick the habit.3. Stay on track with an app
There are loads of great apps out there that can help you resist temptation. My favourite is the Livestrong MyQuit Coach (free) which comes up with a personalized quit plan depending on your lifestyle and number of cigarettes you smoke per day. You can even track your finances to see how much you’ve saved, and connect with an online community of fellow quitters.4. Look for help
Now has never been a better time to quit. Along with the HSE website quit.ie which is filled with lots of helpful tips to help you give up, there are apps, medicines and books to help you quit. Allen Carr’s ‘Easy Way To Stop Smoking’ is a bestseller that has worked for many people. When you need a stop smoking medication we offer prescriptions for Champix, which has been proven to increase your chances of quitting by up to 300%. However there are some associated side effects (see below).
What’s the best way to quit social smoking- I usually only smoke after a few drinks? Is it ok too have a few at the weekend?
Having a few cigarettes at the weekend is better than a few every day but having none at all would be much better! There is also a high chance that in a few years’ time your weekend may blur into your week and you will end up smoking more and end up with a daily habit. Try to stay away from friends smoking on nights out e.g. don’t go outside with them when they go for their own cigarettes and explain to your friends your want to stop so that they don’t encourage you. Ask your friends if they would consider trying to stop smoking alongside you. Some people feel that quitting is easier when they try with friends. Social smoking is still smoking regularly, and you will develop the same negative impacts on your body as someone who smokes every day day. There is also evidence to suggest that social or irregular smokers are more stressed than those who smoke regularly. Either way, each cigarette you have is damaging your lungs and you should take action now to ensure your habit doesn’t develop and become worse.
If you need help giving up smoking, we can provide prescriptions for a four week supply of Champix the stop smoking medicine which increases your chances of giving up by 300%. After four weeks, our doctors will review your progress and if suitable, issue you with a prescription for a further eight week supply. Remember though: some people report low mood as a side effect and this medication may not be suitable if you have a history of depression. Other common side effects include abnormal dreams, headaches, difficulty sleeping and nausea.
Lloyds Online Doctor provides men with consultations for erectile dysfunction medicines, treatment for weight loss, STI and sexual health kits and stop smoking and cholesterol treatment for only €25. Launched in July 2013, the service has treated over 20,000 Irish patients so far. To find out more about the service visit www.lloydsonlinedoctor.ie
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
