Stopping smoking is never easy, as it can take a lot of effort, willpower and a willingness to disrupt previous habits. But help is available.
There is no better time to be aware if this than the occasion of National No Smoking Day, which takes place this year on March 8th. Indeed, if you want to pick up some quit smoking products in the UK, there is no better time.
That’s because this isn’t just a day nominated for the sake of it where smokers are expected to keep the pack and their lighter out of sight for 24 hours before lighting up again on March 9th. This is a chance to begin a concerted effort to make a big change.
If any extra incentive was needed, it is being provided by Alzheimer’s Research UK. It has highlighted the impact of smoking on brain health. Studies have shown that while 70 per cent of smokers know it increases the risks of heart and lung disease, only 18 per cent are aware that it also substantially raises the risk of dementia.
Knowing the reasons to stop is important, but everything comes down to finding methods of staying off the evil weed. Few can do this on willpower alone as the experience of ‘cold turkey’ is a gruelling one. That’s why some extra help can be needed from the pharmacy.
Although the NHS does support vaping as a smoking cessation tool, it Is known that this is, while less dangerous than smoking, still a long way from being harmless. Conditions like ’popcorn lung’ have been associated with the use of e-cigarettes.
However, something like nicotine patches and nicotine gum are much healthier and many people find these are very effective in helping them to quit.
By getting some now, March 8th will not just be a day without cigarettes, but the start of the rest of your life without them.