Smoking
Why should I give up smoking?
Smoking is guaranteed to make your lungs worse.
Although lung damage is permanent, there can be improvements in sputum production and inflammation of the airway by stopping smoking.
Life is shortened by 5 minutes/cigarette (10-15 years).
1 in 2 smokers will die as a result of smoking.
Riverlands Drug and Alcohol Centrer runs Quit Smoking Groups
Positive gains from quitting:
- You will have a 50% less risk of coronary heart disease at 1 year.
- Your risk of stroke is the same as non-smokers after 1 year.
- Your risk of lung cancer is 50% less after 10 years.
- You halt the progression of peripheral vascular disease.
- You will have the non-smoker rates of coronary heart disease at 15 years.
What can help me to stop smoking?
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy
- Advice and counselling
- Combination therapy – patch + gum/inhaler
- Other pharmacotherapies – Zyban (available through GP)
Where do I go for help?
- Doctor – discuss strategies and medications that can help you to quit.
- Quit Line – Phone: 131 848
- Tobacco Cessation Counsellor – Community Health