Cancer Research UK : Giving up smoking is the best way to free yourself from all the chemicals in cigarettes

Giving up smoking is the best way to free yourself from all the chemicals in cigarettes

Giving up is a new start

Some people find quitting hard work, others just reach a point when they want to stop and do. But eventually, ex-smokers agree that they feel better without cigarettes.

Why should I give up?

There are lots of reasons to quit smoking, including:

to improve your health and wellbeing
to decrease your risk of cancer and heart disease
to look after those around you
to save yourself thousands of pounds
to reduce the ageing effects of smoking.

Different ways to quit

People give up smoking in many different ways. The important thing is to find one that works for you and to keep on trying.

Some give up smoking on the spur of the moment but others may find they need to set a quit date. Don’t worry if you’ve tried to give up and failed in the past. Think about what went wrong and try something different next time.

Both getting to know yourself better and seeking professional advice can help with giving up.

Get to know yourself

We all feel differently about cigarettes. Making sure you understand your own thoughts and feelings can help with giving up. Ask yourself:

Why did I start smoking?
Why do I want to stop smoking?
Is now the right time to stop smoking?
When am I most likely to give in to cravings?
Who can support me whilst I’m giving up?
How can I reward myself for giving up?
What will if feel like when I succeed?

Get professional help

Research shows that you’re much more likely to succeed in quitting if you get professional support and advice on medication. The NHS has a range of services to help you give up. These include stop smoking groups, one to one counselling and the ‘Together’ programme to help you give up at home.

To find out more about these services:

call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 (open 7am-11pm every day)
visit www.givingupsmoking.co.uk

Treating withdrawal symptoms

Your healthcare professional may recommend treatment to help control your withdrawal symptoms. There are several products on the market including:

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) which helps reduce cravings
Zyban which reduces your desire to smoke.

Some treatment is available free on prescription. See you GP or pharmacist to find out more.

More information

For more information about giving up smoking including how to avoid putting on weight and tips for staying stopped see our healthy living tobacco section.

Get sponsored to quit smoking

Encourage your friends and family to support you in your attempt to quit smoking by sponsoring you.