IF YOU’RE DESPERATE TO QUIT SMOKING, NOW’S THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT

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HOW do I finally stop smoking – for good?

THERE has never been a better time to quit smoking – and I’ve had a fair few patients contact me looking for help, spurred on by Covid-19 worries. Triggers such as pubs and the company of smoker friends are out of the equation, so there’s every chance you’ll succeed.

Smoking increases your chances of catching the virus by a quarter and makes you two-and-a-half times more likely to have serious complications if you do.

You’re four times more likely to quit for good with support from your local NHS Stop Smoking Service or your GP. And both services are still very much available.

Your local Stop Smoking service can be found via the nhs.uk website, or a GP receptionist over the phone. It offers online support groups and telephone and video calls from healthcare practitioners.

You can also use an over-thecounter aid such as nicotine gum or a patch, above. The strength of gum or patch you need depends how heavily you smoke. If it’s 20-a-day, opt for a gum containing roughly 4g of nicotine.

And if you smoke within half an hour of waking up, you’ll need a patch that lasts 24 hours.

Another option is to take medication that stops cravings. A GP can prescribe this and send it to your local pharmacist.

Or you could try vaping. It’s 95 per cent safer, in terms of health risks, than normal cigarettes. You can get a vaping device easily from many stores online, and your Stop Smoking Service adviser will be able to recommend one.