Help to stop smoking | People First

Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and death with 100,000 people dying every year in the UK as a result of their habit. On average, cigarette smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers.

The good news is that upon quitting you immediately begin reaping the health benefits. Take a look at what sort of health improvements you can expect to experience:

Time since quitting	Health benefits
20 minutes	Pulse returns to normal.
8 hours	Nicotine is reduced by 90% and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by 75%. Circulation improves.
24 hours	Carbon monoxide and nicotine almost eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out smoking debris.
48 hours	All traces of nicotine are removed from the body. The ability to taste and smell improves.
72 hours	Breathing is easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2-12 weeks	Circulation improves.
1 month	Physical appearance improves - skin loses its grey pallor and becomes less wrinkled.
3-9 months	Coughing and wheezing declines.
1 year	Excess risk of a heart attack reduces by half.
10 years	Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a continuing smoker.
15 years	Risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

There is a free service set up to help people stop smoking, who live in :

Advisors will provide you with around six, free, weekly sessions of help and support to get you through the hardest part of quitting, by providing the following:

Top quality advice on medications that can help you quit (which you'll get on prescription).
Support with the really difficult bit - changing your behaviours and habits so you can remain smokefree, for good!
A chance to see your health improving before your eyes with regular Carbon Monoxide tests.

Stop smoking sessions

Appointments are available 1 to 1 with a friendly advisor or you could visit a group or drop in session if you'd like the support of other quitters too. Don't worry if you're busy and think you'll struggle to make appointments - One You Westminster and One You Kensington and Chelsea also offer telephone sessions. All sessions give you the option of receiving a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Support aimed at changing long term smoking habits and stop smoking medication.

Stop smoking medication

A variety of medication to help smokers who want to quit is on offer. This includes Nicotine Replacement Products such as patches, gum, spray and lozenges as well Champix prescribed by your GP. Nicotine Replacement Products work by delivering nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes) to your body without the other 4000 harmful toxins found in every cigarette. By providing a healthier nicotine alternative, people stopping smoking can manage their initial cravings in a way that can be reduced over the term of their stop smoking programme. Champix is initially taken while you still smoke and works by minimising the positive effects a cigarette has on your brain as well as reducing your nicotine cravings.

E-cigarettes - a way of stopping smoking?

E-cigarettes are not currently regulated as a product and therefore One You Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea cannot vouch for their safety or recommend them as an effective way to stop smoking. That said, evidence of their effectiveness in helping smokers stop smoking is growing and if a smoker comes is already using this product, One You Westminster and One You Kensington and Chelsea do not actively discourage it. What's important is that smokers understand that in order to change their smoking habits in the long term, it's essential they receive behavioural support in addition to any form of nicotine replacement product, including e-cigarettes.

Locations

In an effort to make stopping smoking as easy as possible for you, One You Westminster and One You Kensington and Chelsea have set up clinics in a range of locations to suit you.

Contact

For more information, simply call on: 020 3434 2500. Let them help you kick the habit!