SWITCH IT UP
Going cold turkey WON’T help you stop smoking – these are the best ways to quit
Only four per cent of people who quit cold turkey are successful, research suggests, you you're better off trying other methods
THINK ditching fags in one move is the best way to go? Think again!
Going cold turkey won't help you quit smoking, health bosses say, as they steer smokers towards vaping to help them give up for good.
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If you're looking to quit as part of this years Stoptober campaign you're better off using NHS support or e-cigarettes, Public Health England (PHE) said.
Only four per cent of people who quit cold turkey are successful research suggests.
But using nicotine replacement therapies like patches and lozenges increases your chance of quitting by 1.5 times, according to the BBC.
Using an NHS stop-smoking clinic leads to a four-fold rise in your chances of ditching fags for good.
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This year, PHE is offering an online "Personal Quit Plan" to help smokers find the right support to help them pack it in.
The Stoptober campaign also includes an online guide that directs people to e-cigarette sellers in their area.
Only one in ten Brits will be smokers in the next five years, the campaign suggests.
Dr Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at PHE, said: "There are many different types of stop smoking support available, so it can be difficult for a smoker to know what will work best for them.
"The important thing is not to be put off trying to quit even if you have not managed to in the past.
"This year, Stoptober can help you find a combination that could work for you.
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"We predict that thousands of smokers will quit every day over the next 10 years – I urge smokers not to get left behind for the benefit of their health. Join in, find your best way to quit and start your 28-day journey to becoming smokefree."
Research suggests that if you can make it to 28 days without a fag you're five times more likely to quit for good.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical director of Patient.info, said: "I see many people in my surgery who want to quit smoking but far too many try without support, and they end up going back to smoking after a short period.
"Stop smoking aids and face-to-face support from local stop smoking services are proven methods of support that help many thousands of people to quit each year."
These are the best tools to help you quit, according to the NHS Stoptober campaign:
1. E-cigarettes
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Public Health England is directing people to e-cigarettes as part of it's Stoptober campaign.
A new section of the campaigns website provides people with an online guide to e-cigarette sellers in their area and encourages them to use vaping as a way to ditch fags.
E-cigarettes are the nation’s favourite stop smoking aid, with about 3.2 million users.
Over time, the proportion who are ex-smokers has risen and 52 per cent of current vapers have stopped smoking completely.
In 2017-18 two thirds of smokers who switched to vaping were able to quit smoking for good.
E-cigs are another way to help you manage your nicotine cravings until you can eventually wean yourself off of it.
It's thought e-cigarettes are 95 per cent less harmful that fags, but some studies have found toxins in the devices can be harmful so talk to your doctor if you're worried.
2. Prescription tablets
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There are several tablets your doctor can prescribe to help curb your cravings for a cigarette.
Talk to your GP about Champix and Zyban if you are looking to quit.
You start taking the tablets up to two weeks before you quit.
They help curb your craving for a fag and also reduce the effect of cigarettes so you're less likely to want another.
3. Nicotine replacement therapies
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Nicotine replacement therapies work by replacing some of the nicotine you used to get in your cigarettes.
The nicotine is the addictive part, so replacement therapies satisfy your craving.
Over time you can reduce the level of nicotine your body craves by using replacement therapies with less and less in them - you can wean yourself off.
MORE ON QUITTING SMOKING
While nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes, it's relatively harmless.
In fact, almost all of the damage caused by smoking comes from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are toxic.
You can try nicotine patches, gum, inhalers, nasal spray, lozenges or microtabs that dissolve under the tongue.
There's no right or wrong option, it's about whichever works for you.
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