Unhook yourself from the weed
Top tips for giving up smoking
STOPPING smoking is one of the major steps you can take to improve your health.
Do you want to quit smoking and need some help?
NHS Lanarkshire's smoking cessation teams are there to support your efforts and you can refer yourself to them if you are looking for help.
Call the Motherwell team on 863258 to find out about your nearest smoking cessation group or simply to ask advice about quitting smoking.
Even if you have already tried to quit smoking and not been successful, come along to a smoking cessation group and try again. Please do not worry if you are unable to attend a group as there are other support services available to suit your needs.
What happens at a smoking cessation group?
Smoking cessation programmes involve a weekly meeting for six weeks and then two on a fortnightly basis.
Week one is an introductory meeting where the smoking cessation advisor will ask you about your smoking habits and discuss your options. This may include nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of patches, lozenges or inhalers.
The advisors will also carry out a carbon monoxide test with you. This involves you breathing into a breathaliser-type machine to find out how much carbon monoxide is in your body. When you smoke, you inhale carbon monoxide gas which affects the amount of oxygen going to your heart and lungs. Stopping smoking will significantly reduce carbon monoxide levels in your body.
Throughout the programme, you can speak to trained advisors about any aspect of stopping smoking and also speak to fellow quitters to find out how they have coped each week.
What is Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
NRT or Zyban reduce the physical cravings caused by nicotine withdrawal. This makes it easier to stop smoking and stay stopped. NRT only puts nicotine into your body without the dangerous tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke. NRT is available in various forms such as skin patches, chewing gum, nasal spray, inhalator, microtabs and lozenges. You can also use Zyban which is available by prescription from your GP.
What happens to your body when you quit smoking?
When you quit the body starts feeling the benefits as soon as you have smoked your last cigarette. It goes like this . . .
After 20 minutes – your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
20 hours – carbon monoxide clears from your body, oxygen levels rise and you have more energy.
Three days – your breathing becomes easier as your bronchial tubes begin to relax.
A few weeks – your fingers lose their yellow stains and your skin looks better.
Three months – your circulation will have improved.
Three to nine months – your lungs will be clear of most of the mucus and tar that has accumulated over the years.
A year – your risk of a heart attack has fallen to about half that of a smoker.
Smoking cessation co–ordinator Kate McGhee told the Motherwell Times: "If you are one of the 70 per cent of smokers in Scotland who want to quit, take that first step and come along to your local smoking cessation group. Smoking cessation teams are here to help you stop smoking and stay stopped. It is never too late to stop smoking. You will never regret stopping and it is the best thing you will ever do for your health, your family and your finances."
The Motherwell Times is backing the latest push by the North Community Health Partnership to improve the health of local residents.
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Weather for Motherwell, Scotland
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 28 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
