Coping with Thyroid Disease by Mark Greener

Author:Mark Greener [Greener Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847092953
Publisher: John Murray Press

NICE comments that NRT is safe for at least 5 years and adds that ‘there is reason to believe that lifetime use of licensed nicotine-containing products will be considerably less harmful than smoking’. However, some studies have raised concerns that smoking cessation therapies might increase the risk of events linked to cardiovascular disease, such as arrhythmias, heart attacks and so on. Nevertheless, a recent paper considered 67 studies and found that neither bupropion nor varenicline increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. NRT roughly doubled the risk of cardiovascular events, but these were mainly less serious events such as tachycardia (a fast heartbeat), which, the authors comment, is ‘well-known and largely benign’. There’s no evidence that smoking cessation therapies increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events. In other words, NRT is a lot better for your heart than smoking – but quitting is even better.

Tips to help you quit

While smoking cessation treatments offer a helping hand, you still need to be motivated to quit. A few simple hints may make life easier:

•Set a quit date when you will stop completely. Smokers are more likely to quit if they set a specific date rather than saying, for example, that they will give up in the next 2 months.

•Quit abruptly. People who cut back the number of cigarettes they smoke usually inhale more deeply to get the same amount of nicotine. Nevertheless, cutting back seems to increase the likelihood that you will eventually quit by, in some studies, 70 per cent compared with those who never cut back. So while reduction takes you a step towards kicking the habit, do not stop there.

•Plan ahead. For a couple of weeks before you quit, keep a diary of problems and situations that tempt you to light up, such as stress, coffee, meals, pubs or work breaks. Understanding when and why you light up helps you find alternatives or how to avoid the cue.

•Try to find something to take your mind off smoking. If you find yourself smoking when you get home in the evening, try a new hobby or exercise. If you find car journeys boring without a cigarette, try an audio book. Most people find that the craving for a cigarette usually only lasts a couple of minutes.

•Smoking is expensive. Keep a note of how much you save and spend at least some of it on something for yourself.

•Tackle stress. Try relaxation therapies (page 121), exercise (page 117) or take up a hobby that you enjoy.

•Ask if your area offers NHS antismoking clinics, which offer advice, support and, when appropriate, NRT. You can also obtain a free quit-smoking support pack from the NHS Smoking Helpline (0800 022 4332).

•Hypnosis can increase your chances of quitting smoking almost fivefold.51 Ask your doctor for a recommendation or contact the British Association of Medical Hypnosis.

•Deal with hunger pangs without reaching for the sweet packet, which may mean you put on weight. On average, people who quit smoking without treatment gained 1.12 kg (2.47 lbs) during the month after quitting and 4.

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