Help on the high street

Quit for good with advice from your local pharmacist

WE have teamed up with LloydsPharmacy for its Need-to- know health campaign which aims to make patients more aware of the support services offered by their local pharmacist – and to make the pharmacy their first point of call. We talk to pharmacist Anshu Bhimbat about how your local LloydsPharmacy can support you when trying to quit smoking:

WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO QUIT THE HABIT Q

Public Health England has recently published evidence that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful* than normal cigarettes. What would you say to someone who is thinking about quitting using these?

A

When someone comes in to pharmacy to stop smoking we recognise how challenging it can be and have a range of ideas to help along the way, including e-cigarettes, patches, gums, inhalators, lozenges; it’s about finding the right product for you.

If the right option for you, e-cigarettes are considered to be less harmful than cigarette smoking as they don’t include tobacco, which contains carcinogens and toxins which can be detrimental to your health.

Q

What happens to the body as soon as someone stops smoking?

A

The positive effects and benefits on your health are noticeable almost immediately. Around 20 minutes after stopping smoking you will notice an improvement in your circulation, and your blood pressure will return to normal. After 72 hours you’ll notice an improvement in your breathing as your lung function will improve.**

When someone stops smoking there might be some initial side-effects. Side-effects could include mood changes, such as irritability and nicotine cravings. Nictone is highly addictive and most side-effects should subside once your body has adjusted to being smoke-free.