Whatever your reason for giving up smoking you can find help and support at your Boots pharmacy
Stub out those cigarettesTobacco kills nearly 100,000 people in the UK every year – the equivalent of 11 deaths every single hour.
It is well known that smoking can cause cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease. But tobacco can also lead to a whole range of other serious problems such as infertility and sight loss.
Happily, within hours of stamping out your last
cigarette your body starts
to recover from the effects
of nicotine and additives.
Your blood pressure and
heart rate begin to return to healthier levels, and over time your lung capacity increases and breathing becomes easier.
The best thing you can do is quit smoking but it can be hard.
These top tips can help you kick the habit
Being active can help you quit smoking
Studies have shown that even moderate physical activity can reduce the urge to smoke.
Tell your family, friends and colleagues – so you can get their support. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way.
Brushing your teeth regularly helps stave off the urge for a cigarette.
Avoid activities such as drinking alcohol that trigger your urge to smoke.
Eat fruit and veg right before you smoke - a study shows they make cigarettes taste terrible.
Reward yourself by spending the money you’ve saved on cigarettes on something fun.Stopping smoking can save you money
Kicking a 20-a-day habit will boost your bank account by a massive £2,600 a year. Even cutting out five cigarettes a day will leave you with an extra £650 a year in the piggy bank. So if you’re looking for that financial motivation to cut down or stop smoking completely, visit boots.com/stopsmokingcalculator where an online calculator will work out exactly how much money you could save.
How pharmacies can help you quit
Did you know you are four times more likely to successfully quit smoking with support?
The free NHS stop smoking service in selected pharmacies offers access to a one-to-one consultation with trained advisers.
The service provides expert advice, support and encouragement to help you stop smoking for good.
The adviser will give expert advice on the different types of stop smoking medicines and which will be most suitable for you.
When asked if they would recommend the service, nine out of 10 smokers who’ve used a local Stop Smoking Service said they would.
Remember, your pharmacist is not just there to provide treatment options but to offer advice and support, and also talk you through any concerns.
Boots pharmacist Tom Kallis said: “Giving up smoking is probably the single most positive thing you can do to improve your health.”
He and other pharmacists understand there’s no one way to quit and will help you find what works best for you.
Pharmacists will help you find what works for youHead to your local pharmacy to find out what support is available there to help you improve your chances of quitting. Mr Kallis said: “It can take several attempts to quit smoking for good – but if the will is there to even hazard giving it a shot, I’d say it’s worth a try with your local pharmacy team.
Pharmacists will help you find what works for youHead to your local pharmacy to find out what support is available there to help you improve your chances of quitting. Mr Kallis said: “It can take several attempts to quit smoking for good – but if the will is there to even hazard giving it a shot, I’d say it’s worth a try with your local pharmacy team.
“Willpower is the most important factor. If someone wants to quit, the time is probably right to start taking some action – even if it’s only baby steps.”
Pharmacies are an excellent first port of call for smokers who have decided they want to cut cigarettes out of their life.
Mr Kallis said: “Having a chat with your local pharmacist can allow smokers who want to quit to gauge which product or combination of products would be best suited to them, how to use them and when to use them.
“Our pharmacists can give expert advice on products available such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy to help with quitting smoking.
“These are available in a range of forms such as patches and inhalators, which work at slightly different speeds.
“Most pharmacies also have details of local support groups or even provide NHS stop smoking services to help smokers along
their journey.”
For those who prefer the comfort of their home, Boots even has an online stop smoking clinic. This enables customers to have an online consultation and if it's suitable for them, to access a prescription only medicine to help their quit attempt.
Boots is also backing Public Health England’s Stoptober challenge, which is back for another year to help the one in five Brits who still smoke quit.
Last year more than 250,000 smokers across England and Wales stubbed out their cigarettes for October. And they will be supported again this year by a host of comedians including Rhod Gilbert and Bill Bailey. Research shows if you manage to stop smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stop for good.
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