Stub it out for good this Stoptober
London (PRWEB UK) 14 October 2013 -- We may be almost two weeks into October but it’s not too late to join up to ditch the smoking habit this Stoptober.
Stoptober was launched by Public Health England last year and encourages smokers to give up for 28 days. Now in its second year, the inaugural event saw 160,000 people give up during the campaign. (http://bit.ly/17ZQk8R)
Marian Nasr, pharmacist at ChemistDirect said: “The best thing for a smoker to do is to set a date for stopping smoking.
“This gives smokers something to work towards, otherwise they could end up trying to quit for a long time. This is why taking part in Stoptober is such a great incentive.”
Despite the well-publicised health risks of smoking, and research showing that a single cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals, 70 of which are known to be cancerous, 16 per cent of the UK population (10million) still haven’t kicked the habit. (http://bit.ly/Q2FBTZ)
But research from the University of Vermont in the US suggests that by quitting for 28 days as part of Stoptober, smokers are five times more likely to stop for good. (http://bit.ly/18wk8hg)
Ms Nasr adds: “Smokers should write a list of why they want to stop and use this to help motivate themselves.
“As well as the obvious health benefits such as improving breathing and general fitness, this could include improving fertility levels, enjoying the taste of food more and saving money. This is particularly useful if they suffer from side-effects, such as feeling sick and headaches, after quitting.”
There is a wide range of nicotine replacement therapy products including gums, mints, patches and sprays, which can help to manage withdrawal symptoms.
She added: “Smokers should ensure that they are prepared for some withdrawal symptoms, but this usually tend to pass after the first two to four weeks.”
Anyone who signs up to Stoptober will receive a stop smoking pack, a mobile app and text support with daily updates and advice, as well as access to tips and encouragement from other quitters.
Samantha Smith, Chemist Direct, +44 1215414952 205, [email protected]
Share this article