Published at 17 October, 2017 00:00.
Our team at Yorkshire Smokefree have gone undercover to bust those stop smoking myths once and for all, so that you can have an easier journey to a smoke free life. Amongst all the tips and advice around smoking, it’s hard to know for sure what will help and what wont.
At first, you may feel bouts of worry when you quit because you are so used to the habit of smoking; but in the long run, your improved health will make you feel like a new person. Studies have found cigarettes to be a depressant as it increases anxiety and depression.
The stress relief you may feel when you smoke is only very temporary and is a false sense of relaxation caused by the addiction. In the long run, quitting the cigs will do you a world of good to your mental health.
Call your trained stop smoking advisor: If you need help along the way to deal with stress, call our team at Yorkshire Smokefree who are on hand whenever you need. Our valuable support means our service is five times more likely to help you become smokefree for good in compared to on your own!
Connect with people: A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way.
A common worry about ditching the cigs is gaining weight. The good news is, not everyone adds the lbs; the reason behind this myth is down to the fact that your sense of taste and smell improves once you say goodbye to the cigarettes, meaning your appetite normally increases.
Keep on moving: Keep your metabolism high by taking regular exercise. Try walking rather than getting the bus or using a lift, start a gym class, or ask your local sports centre about the activities they offer.
Choose wisely: Combat hunger pangs by keeping a stash of healthy treats to hand. Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit and veg sticks are ideal.
Keep on top of it: Make sure that you are taking your medicines regularly to help suppress cravings. The less you crave nicotine, the easier it will be to keep focused.
Many people who come to our service believe that it’s too late to quit, but the good news is, that’s just not the case. There is ALWAYS time to quit, so much so, with commitment, you can improve your health to almost that of a person who has never smoked before!
Once you quit, your body immediately thanks you for it. As little as 20 minutes after you ditch the cigs, your blood pressure, pulse rate and the temperature of your hands and feet will have returned to normal; and that’s just the start!
Commit to quit: All you need is the commitment to stop for good. After 28 days smoke free, it should become easier. With the help of Yorkshire Smokefree, we provide exceptional support from our advisors who are there to help.
Champix has been linked with occasional reports of depression and even suicidal thoughts. However, recent research has shown that there is no evidence that Champix increases the risks of suicide and depression. In fact, it has proven to be a successful method of quitting as more than 6 in every 10 people who used it with the support of their local stop smoking service stopped smoking for a month or more.
Be open: If you’re quitting the cigs and do find yourself having suicidal thoughts or low moods, talk over any concerns with your doctor or NHS stop smoking adviser beforehand, especially if you've had depression or another mental illness before. Be aware of your moods while you're taking the tablets and tell your doctor if you notice any change.
Cutting down your cig intake or changing to ‘light’ cigarettes does not improve your health and does not significantly reduce your risk of a smoking related disease. In fact, smokers of only 1-4 cigarettes per day have 3 times the risk of dying from a heart attack and 3-5 times the risk of dying from lung cancer compared to non-smokers.
If you want to greatly improve your health, wellbeing and save money, cutting out the cigs completely will give you the best chance of success.
Think long term: After a month of being smoke free, your cravings will gradually decrease and you can say hello to a healthier lifestyle.
