If you’re interested in stopping smoking, Pharmacy 24 is here to help you.

Stop smoking

According to Public Health England (PHE), 60% of smokers want to quit, and all for very different and personal reasons. With our support, you’ll be five times more likely to give up for good.

Reasons to quit smoking

Also everyone is unique, there are three main reasons why people choose to quit smoking; to be healthier, to save money, or to protect their family. Smoking puts you at a greater risk of developing a range of conditions and illnesses, from mouth, throat and lung cancer to circulation problems, fertility issues and coronary heart disease. In fact, around half of all smokers will die because of the habit.

As well as helping your lungs, you’ll also be doing your wallet a favour by quitting. On average, most people who quit save around £250 each month, which adds up to £3,000 a year. You can work out how much you’d save with the NHS cost calculator.

You’ll also be protecting your friends and family from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking. Long term exposure to secondhand smoke can cause the same health problems as smoking.

How soon do you notice the benefits?

Once you stop smoking, you body begins to heal almost straight away.

After 20 minutes, your pulse rate returns to normal. It takes only 48 hours for your body to eliminate all the carbon monoxide and nicotine, and after 72 hours you should begin to breathe easier.

The benefits only increase as time passes since your last cigarette. After a year, your risk of heart disease halves compared to someone who is still smoking, after 10 years your risk of lung cancer falls to half of a smoker, and after 15 years your risk of a heart attack falls to that of someone who has never smoked.

How Pharmacy 24 can help you stop smoking

If you’re serious about giving up, why not speak to the experts? Our pharmacy teams have lots of experience in helping people stop smoking and can help you find the solution that’s best for you. We offer advice on nicotine replacement therapies including lozenges, gum and mouth spray.

We offer free NHS Stop Smoking Services involving 1-to-1 consultations, and weekly support.

But remember, if you don’t succeed the first time you try and quit, don’t give up. It may be reassuring to know that on average, most people have 3 or 4 attempts at quitting before they give up permanently. Good luck!