Stop smoking
"It's never too late to make a positive change"
Regardless of how long you have smoked for, quitting smoking will greatly improve your health. The benefits of stopping smoking can be experienced almost immediately. See below for how long it takes for the changes to take effect.
20 minutes
Blood pressure returns to normal
8 hours
Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half.
24 hours
Carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body. Lung start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
48 hours
There is no nicotine in your body. Ability to smell and taste is greatly improved.
72 hours
Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2-12 weeks
Your circulation improves
3-9 months
Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%.
1 year
Risk of heart attack falls to about half compared to a person who is still smoking.
10-15 years
Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker. Risk of heart attack falls to the same as one who has never smoked.
We all know that cigarette smoking is bad for us. But did you know that it can also lead to incontinence?
​
Studies have shown that smokers are at an increased risk for incontinence. Over time, many smokers develop a chronic cough, which can put an enormous amount of pressure on the pelvic muscles, causing them to weaken and increasing the chance of stress incontinence. Additionally, smokers also experience more frequent urges to use the restroom, as smoking is an irritant to the bladder. Even more alarming, it’s been shown that smoking can also lead to bladder cancer. How Smoking Contributes To Incontinence?
​
What’s a smoker to do?
The obvious fix is to quit smoking – not only to alleviate or prevent incontinence, but for a host of other health reasons as well.
​
While quitting is not easy, there are a few things you can do to help you succeed:
-
Self-refer to Smokefree Hampshire (details below).
-
Get the support of your family and friends. Tell your loved ones what you are trying to do so they can support you and give you the encouragement you need when you are feeling tempted to smoke.
-
Avoid your triggers. Many people feel the urge to smoke during certain activities – grabbing drinks with friends, at certain times of the day, etc. Try to avoid these activities for a while or find ways to stay busy during your usual smoking times.
-
Take up a hobby. With all the time you’ll save by not smoking, you may be able to finally start that project or hobby you’ve been thinking about. Doing something with your hands (knitting, woodworking, etc.) may also help to keep busy and help you avoid the urge to pick up a cigarette.
​
How Smoking Contributes To Incontinence?
Smoking is a hard habit to quit for many people. But with determination and perseverance, it can be done. And it’s never too late to see the benefits of quitting – a recent study showed that even smokers who quit in their 60’s saw an increase in their lifespan.
​
Resource: https://nafc.org/
​
Our top tips
make a plan
Create a quit date and stop smoking then.
make a list of reasons to stop
Whether it is to save money, improve your health, or for your family, having a motivation to stop smoking can help you stay on track.
get support
The best way of stopping smoking is with a combination of medication and specialist support.
stay busy
Keeping yourself busy such as exercising, reading or catching up with friends can help curb temptations.
Why stop smoking?
IMPROVES LUNG AND HEART HEALTH
IMPROVES FERTILITY
IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
SAVES MONEY
IMPROVES ENERGY
FOOD TASTES BETTER
Hythe Hospital and Hythe Library are your local
stop smoking locations
Stop smoking clinics are running on Wednesday mornings 10am - 1pm at Hythe Library
and Wednesday evenings 6.00pm – 8pm at Hythe Hospital.
​
Eligibility
Individuals are eligible for this service if they meet the following criteria:
-
Live, work, study or are registered with a GP in Hampshire.
-
12 years and over.
-
Currently use tobacco products (e.g. cigarettes/shisha) or nicotine products, e.g. vapes.
Patients can sign-up via this link to:
-
Complete a booking form.
-
Book a triage appt by following the link you will get.
-
You'll be allocated a time slot for a call from the Smokefree team.
-
You'll get booked into a local clinic that suits you.
​​​​​​
Call 0800 772 3649 or Email – hello@smokefreehampshire.co.uk
​
This is a FREE service to patients - funded by Hampshire Country Council and provided by Thrive Tribe.
​
Helping children and young people to quit smoking and vaping
Today is a good day to quit. Ditch smoking and vaping with our programme designed specifically for people under 18.
​
-
Regular in-person or remote (via phone or video call) sessions with a fully trained, friendly mentor.
-
Tools and resources to support wellbeing and make the quit process quick and effective.
​
