Did you know?
Every 6.5 seconds someone in the world dies from tobacco use = 1.5 million people dying needlessly each year.
Every cigarette a person smokes reduces his/her life by five and a half minutes.
In Ireland, smoking is the leading cause of avoidable death. Nearly 7,000 people die each year from the effects of smoking and thousands of others are ill because of smoking-related diseases.
Reasons for giving up:
Better quality of life, to be fitter/ healthier.
To improve lung function
To reduce risk of cardiovascular complications in later life
Financial Reasons
Health Benefits start straight away!
Within 20 minutes circulation will improves, heart rate and blood pressure drop.
Within 24-48 hours all the carbon monoxide will be eliminated.
Within a few days sense of smell and taste will start to improve.
After 72 hours breathing will improve and energy levels will increase.
Within 1 year the chance of heart attack drops by half and within 10 years the risk drops to almost the same as a non-smoker, or having never smoked.
What should I do?
Keep a smoking diary to work out your smoking pattern and spot your triggers.
Write down realistic ways to deal with or avoid situations that trigger you to smoke.
Set a quit date and work towards it.
Use relaxation techniques and rewards to reinforce not smoking, with all the money that you are saving you can afford to treat yourself!
Remind yourself of the 4 Ds: Distract, Delay, Drink water, Deep breathe
Consider getting support from the HSE smoking cessation service.
Further information and advice is available online at www.quit.ie or by calling to Claregalway Pharmacy open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on Saturday. Tel/fax 091 799 754.
