An informative article from Health & Fitness – Essential Drogheda.

http://www.quitsmoking.ie/pdfs/stopsmoking.pdf

What are the risks that these groups of smokers face?

The stereotypical heavy smoker is someone who is smoking every day. They can’t go through the day without smoking. They could be smoking anything from up to a packet to several packs daily. In most cases the amount of cigarettes smoked is gradually increasing. These smokers are at highest risk of the health pitfalls that accompany smoking.

Studies have shown again and again that this group face an increased risk of cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, stroke, aneurysms, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular illnesses.

The next group are lighter smokers. They smoke from one to five cigarettes a day. Considering that they smoke less than a heavy smoker you might think the risk is reduced by the a proportional percentage. For instance if they smoke half the number of cigarettes as a heavy smoker does then they are at half the risk.

A study in Norway carried out over 30 years involving 54,000 people recently dispelled this myth. The study found that the groups of people smoking ‘lightly’ were almost at the same level of risk as the ‘heavy’ smokers. Smokers of any amount were about twice as likely to suffer the diseases as those who did not smoke. This ground breaking study concluded that there is no safe number of cigarettes to smoke.

But what about the so called social smoker? Those people who smoke at parties, when out with friends and other social events. People who don’t necessarily smoke every day or only smoke a small number. What health risks do they face?

Social or occasional smokers are still at risk of developing smoking related illness. There is evidence to suggest that it is a reduced risk than that faced daily smokers. It should be noted that almost everyone who becomes a daily smoker begins as a social or occasional smoker. The chances of a persons smoking habits developing from occasional into daily are extremely high.

The group at the greatest risk here are those who have in the past smoked daily and have managed to give up for a time or cut back to social occasions. This group will statistically have great difficulty staying at a reduced rate and in the majority of cases will return to daily smoking. The trigger that spurs them back to daily smoking is usually a highly stressful event such as a bereavement.

All groups of smokers face increased health risks. They are engaging in a proven dangerous activity. Some smokers will escape unharmed but the majority will suffer the consequences of reduced overall quality of life and the myriad of deadly illnesses that accompany smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT):

NRT aims to reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping smoking by replacing the nicotine from cigarettes. NRT is available as skin patches that deliver nicotine slowly, and chewing gum, nasal spray, inhalers, and lozenges/tablets, all of which deliver nicotine to the brain more quickly than from skin patches, but less rapidly than from smoking cigarettes.

Side Effects of NRT:

As with all medicines, nicotine products may cause side-effects. Common side effects with all products are: headache, nausea and dizziness.

In addition patches can cause skin rashes and irritation and the nasal spray can cause sneezing, sore throat, runny nose and eyes.

Nicotine from lozenges, gums and inhalers may irritate the mouth and throat and cause dryness.

These products can also increase the production of saliva at the start of treatment, and excessive swallowing of nicotine in this saliva can cause hiccups.

Success Rate of NRT:

1 Year Success Rate 10% (up to 19% When given in association with intensive behavioural support)

Long term Success 5%

Medication:

Bupropion (Zyban):

Bupropion acts on the dopamine system in the brain to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings (and also therefore acts as an antidepressant) . Generally, people taking this medication find that when they stop smoking, the withdrawal symptoms and cravings are much easier to deal with. As with any medicine there may be side effects – for example, some people complain they get a dry mouth and others have trouble sleeping, so it isn’t suitable for everyone. For every 15 people who use bupropion, one will become a long term quitter.

Side effects of Bupropion:

serious side effects may include: seizure (convulsions), severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash, fever, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling, confusion, trouble concentrating or hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behaviour

Less serious side effects may include:

headache or migraine, sleep problems (insomnia), nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, tremors (shaking), appetite changes, weight loss or gain, mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating,loss of interest in sex.

(Data from http://www.drugs.com/zyban.html#ixzz0sDNLW500 )

It has been associated with reports of changes in behaviour such as hostility, agitation, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts or actions.  The FDA is requiring the manufacturers of these products, including generic versions of Zyban (bupropion), to add a new Boxed Warning to the product labelling to alert healthcare professionals to this important new safety information

(Data from FDA drug safety newsletter volume 2 number 1 2009)

Success Rate of Bupropion:

When given in association with intensive behavioural support, bupropion is as effective as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and like NRT, leads to a near doubling of the smoking cessation rate, achieving long term abstinence in 19% of smokers who use it to quit.
(Data from British Medical Journal http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC351853/ )

Varenicline (Chantix/ Champix):

Varenicline provides a constant low level stimulation of the nicotine receptors in the brain and makes cigarettes taste awful so the smoker they can’t see the point of taking them as there is no nicotine ‘hit’. For every 8 people who use varenicline one will become a long term quitter.

Remember, always consult your doctor first.

(Data from the Cochrane Review 2007).

Side effects of Varenicline:

Some people have had changes in behaviour, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behaviour, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Source www.champix.com

Success rate of Varenicline:

21.9% after one year

(Data from http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=4469&issue=October_2006&UID= )

Hypnotherapy:

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation involves accessing the part of the mind where the habit and associations of smoking are located, the subconscious mind. During hypnosis the subconscious habit and associations are broken and desirable, healthy associations are established. The issue of cravings does not arise as the subconscious fear triggers which generate them are eliminated during the process. It is the safest and most effective system available to stop smoking permanently.

Side effects:

There are no known adverse affects from Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation

Success Rate:

40% to 95% depending on the style of hypnotherapy applied.

Lower rates of 40% are found where clients are brought into a clinic and simply played a generic recording through headphones.

Higher success rates of 95% are associated with hypnotherapy where clients are personally treated with a programme designed for them. A qualified professional hypnotist delivers the therapy. This client focussed approach is the state of the art of advanced hypnosis.

Disclaimer

All content within the QuitSmoking.ie website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice from your own doctor or other health care professional. Always consult your own doctor if you’re in any way concerned about your health.



Ellen being hypnotized to quit smoking

This programme is brought to you by Irish Hypnosis Ltd., the largest, fastest growing and most successful provider of hypnosis in Ireland. We help thousands of people each year in Ireland to Quit Smoking, so you can be confident you have made the correct choice in choosing this programme to help get you ready to Stop Smoking and change your life. It is important that you follow this programme step by step in order to help you achieve your goal easily.

This programme has been developed over many years specifically with you in mind. Many years of refinement, experience, trial and error have resulted in the most effective programme to help get you ready to Quit Smoking available.

Find yourself somewhere comfortable to listen to the CD. We advise that the first time you play it you listen to the whole programme. The second track of the recording contains a self hypnosis section so you should never play it when driving or in any situation where you need your full awareness. Only play the self hypnosis section when you can safely relax completely.

We have found through years of work in this area that the greatest successes come to the most committed people. The information on the CD is designed to increase your commitment to quitting smoking. Being committed to a goal is essential to achieving it.

Some people have found that listening to the whole programme once has been all it takes to get them to a place where they are ready to quit smoking. Others find that repeated playing of the self hypnosis track helps them to build their commitment to quit. Whatever works for you is right for you.

Its ok to continue to smoke while working with this programme but if you have already quit you should stay free as you move through the programme

Take whatever steps you need to in order to build up your commitment level. The actual act of quitting becomes quite easy when you are fully prepared. When you are ready and you want our help,  call us on 1890 252 567 or email info@quitsmoking.ie

Whatever choices you make, we at Irish Hypnosis Ltd. wish you the best in health, happiness and wellbeing.

If you have not done so, read ‘The science of smoking’ to get an understanding of where cravings come from. If you have been smoking for a long time and have been chasing the illusion of relief through smoking then you have some associations to change. Allowing time to pass from when you quit will help you to change your behaviour. Very soon you will get used to living in a normal, non poisoned state.

Knowing the mechanism of smoking should reduce the potential for cravings to almost zero. But what if you were still to experience cravings? How much pain could you justify your body going through in order to stay alive?

There was a situation some years ago where a mountain climber had an accident while climbing alone in an extremely remote location. He got one of his arms trapped under a falling boulder. After a few hours he came to accept the reality that he was completely unable to free the arm. Since no one knew where he was there was no hope of a rescue.

He was in a life or death situation. Food and water almost gone, death was certain if he stayed trapped where he was. So how did he live to tell the tale?

In order to survive he went through what must have been incredible pain. He summoned all his courage and using his knife with the free arm he cut off the trapped arm. His courage and ability to endure that pain allowed him to survive.

So how much pain can a human go through in order to survive? Imagine how tiny a perceived cigarette craving would be compared to what some have done to survive. Overcoming any cravings is essential for your survival. Luckily, you have massive inner resources to overcome pain in order to survive.

Very few people enjoy the first cigarettes they smoke. When a person smokes a cigarette for the first time they often feel light headed and nauseous. The reason for this sick feeling is very simple. Its their body reacting to poison. Each cigarette contains a small dose of a highly toxic poison, a poison which is commonly used as a weed killer. The poison is Nicotine.

When you first inhale cigarette smoke your body immediately recognises the Nicotine as something toxic and unwanted. Your body warns you to stop taking it by giving you the light headed and nauseous feeling. For the first few days of smoking the body tries to alert you every time you smoke that you are poisoning your self.

After a few days, if you continue to ignore this warning, your system begins to adapt. Your system decides that although you are inhaling poison that there must be some reason that you are doing this. Otherwise you would not be doing it. So the system, which is always trying to survive and be comfortable, begins to make a change to how it reacts to the poison.

As your system detects the nicotine being inhaled it releases its own natural pain killing drugs, endorphins. It does this because it assumes you must have to take the nicotine for some reason and therefore it doesn’t want you to continually feel poisoned. It releases the endorphins which take away alot of the poisoned feeling.

We release endorphins in response to many different types of pain. You can imagine a boxer during a match would have alot of pain from the punches they get during the fight. So how do they continue to fight for round after round? The answer is that their system recognises their situation as being a crisis and they are fighting for survival. The system releases endorphins to help them through the worst of the pain. About 80% of the pain is relieved and they wont feel it until later.

When smoking, the endorphins take away about 80% of the poisoned feeling just after a cigarette. Endorphins remain active in your bloodstream for about thirty minutes after a cigarette, during the time that the nicotine concentration in your bloodstream is at its highest.

The problem is that the nicotine poison stays in your system for about 3 days. So once the endorphins wear off, the body once again begins to feel this continuous low level of poisoning. A pattern has been made in the mind where it has learned that relief from the poisoned feeling is brought about by smoking a cigarette. When you smoke a cigarette you get temporary, partial relief from the poisoned feeling. This will last for about thirty minutes. Needless to say, each time a smoker chooses this relief, they top up their poisoning level for another three days.

The smoker exists in a constant poisoned state. They never feel as they did before they ever smoked or like a non smoker does. The best they can hope for is to feel 80% unpoisoned for the thirty minutes or so after they smoke a cigarette. This feeling is generated by their own system in response to the burst of nicotine in a cigarette. Its their bodies own pain killing mechanism.

So when a smoker says that a cigarette calms or relaxes them its because they are experiencing a small relief from the constant poisoned feeling they live with. As long as they continue the smoking cycle they can never get to the normal 100% unpoisoned feeling they had before they ever smoked or which a non smoker has. Only by breaking the smoking cycle can they get rid of the poisoned feeling for good and return to a normal balanced state.