Can you overcome the mental barriers to quitting?

Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult. This is in large part because of the addictive nature of nicotine. But it is also because smoking is a major psychological addiction. This means that part of the solution needs to be psychological as well. To ensure that you give yourself the best chance of success, here are our 5 Steps to use your mind to help you stop smoking.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Take some time to thoroughly research the effects of smoking on your health. Talk to your doctor, read support articles, or watch some videos There are some very good smoke-free videos about the harm caused by smoking on the NHS YT channel. This may not be pleasant to do, but it’s important to be informed about the effects your smoking has on your body. Being fully aware of these effects may make you more resolved to quit.

Next, spend some time researching the positive effects of quitting. Quitting smoking can almost immediately lower your risk for many health issues. Remember that there’s a lot of hope for improving your long-term health, and use this as motivation.

Step 2: Reflect

You should also spend some time focusing your attention inwards. Why do you want to quit smoking? Maybe you’ve noticed some negative changes in your health and want to change that. Maybe you have fitness goals that will only be possible without smoking. Maybe you want to do it for your children or other loved ones.

Think about these important reasons, and write them down. You can also write down how you expect your life to improve after quitting; what do you expect to get out of a life without cigarettes? If you feel yourself caving after you quit, reread these reasons to give you some encouragement.

Step 3: Remove Triggers

Once you’ve decided to quit, spend a bit of time thinking about what causes you to smoke. Is it stress during work or after school? Or perhaps you smoke after meals. Do you find yourself smoking around particular friends or in specific social situations? If you can, once you’ve quit, remove yourself from these triggers as much as possible.

Supportive friends will understand if you need to change up your routine a little bit. This is also a good time to remove all smoking-related memorabilia from your home. Clean out packs of cigarettes, ash trays, lighters, and matches from your house, workplace, and car. You’re transforming your home and life from that of a smoker to that of a non-smoker.

Step 4: Substitute Positive Activities

Think of quitting as an opportunity to add something good for your life in place of smoking. This is a great time to pick up a new hobby or skill. Exercising on your own, swimming, or taking classes at a gym is a fantastic way to stay healthy and reduce stress levels.

You could also take on cooking classes or a creative hobby such as painting or crafting. All of these new activities will help you to move your life forward and give you something to do when you need to distract yourself from the craving for a cigarette.

Step 5: Keep things Simple

If you are looking to quit and are using a vape device as support make sure it is a simple and small device. To increase the chances of success you need to replace your cigarette habit using a similar sized device so that you minimise the psychological factors associated with smoking. Don’t go for some complicated oversized vaping mod with a plethora of options that will just feel awkward. There is significant information to suggest simplicity is the best way regarding moving forward with a vape device.

As a stop smoking site I am frequently asked what the best e-cig is and why. I try to answer this question for everyone but recently thought that it would be a lot easier to create a blog that would be publicly available for anyone that is interested.

Obviously the advice that I offer in this blog is accurate based on my opinions at the time of writing and I will try to update it if our opinions change.

The short answer is that I recommend the V2 e-cigs, vape pens and vaporizers but allow me to give you a little bit more information.

V2 e Cigs are quality and they have proper tested e-liquids so you know what goes into your e-liquids – most companies do not give lab reports! V2 also manufacture and design etc. where just about everyone else buys from China and sticks a brand name on the e-cig – I believe there are 2 companies in UK who use their own facilities – V2 is one of them.

Beyond simply knowing which e-cigarette to choose I would also like to give you some other food for thought.

My experience of switching to e-cigs suggests you need to ensure you are fully covered (i.e. no chance of making an excuse to go out in the middle of the night to buy fags because your battery is broken/uncharged hiding itself from you etc.) Have a quality product and ensure you can’t make any excuses to nip out and buy some cigs. You need to have 3 batteries minimum for example if using the smaller cigarette style e cigs, alternatively the V2 Pro 3 vape pen will last all day while you then charge overnight. I use the Pro 3 BUT I still have 2 of the V2 smaller e cigarettes for convenience and back up – just in case! If you work from a pc a lot then also get a power cig, this connects to your pc usb port for all day vaping. If you are out and away from a plug – e.g. travel in car a lot make sure you have a PCC (personal charging case – this charges your e-cig without the need for a power supply) so you can charge batteries wherever you are.

Make sure you get a sampler pack of cartridges so you can find out exactly what taste and strength suits you –normally 18 mg if you smoke regular cigs. Too weak and you will be down the garage buying cigs. Final touch – I like to vary my vaping a bit to keep me from getting bored and so I use cartridges that are prefilled mostly – but now and again I use e-liquid in a self-filling mini-tank. V2 call theirs the ex-blank – here once you know which taste and strength of cartridge you like you can then buy separately the e-liquid equivalent and fill your mini-tank – this method give a similar experience to the prefilled carts but just a little bit more oomph!

Good luck – I have been on e cigs now for over 3 years now and my lungs have cleared – no coughing in the am, massively fitter, and saving money too!

Are you trying to stop smoking?

According to the 2017 NHS statistics there was an estimated 79,000 deaths attributable to smoking in 2015 (up from 78k in 2014).

• This represents 16% of all deaths.
• These deaths were premature deaths. These people did not live a full life span.
• Almost half (47%) of hospital admissions for cancers that can be caused by smoking, were estimated to be attributable to smoking.
• NHS Stop Smoking Services are Under Utilised.

These statistics give a stark reminder of the effects of smoking and could give you the smoker enough reason to quit smoking and become an Ex-Smoker.

One of the proven ways to help ease the process of quitting smoking is to have people support where you can share your feelings and experiences with other people. This can come in the form of family or friends however the NHS also offer a helping hand in the form of the NHS Stop Smoking Services that should not be ignored. This service offers practical steps that can immediately help you on your way to becoming a non-smoker.

According to Dr Michael Apple with the medication offered and the support of these services you are four times more likely to stop smoking successfully.

And the proof is that it works – last year over 200,000 people set a quit date and at the 4-week follow-up half of them had successfully quit.

Seven NHS Services To Help You Stop Smoking

1. See your GP

Your GP is trained to help you quit smoking. They can prescribe nicotine replacement therapy including stop smoking medication, gums and patches. They can also discuss other NHS support including quit smoking clinics.

2. Join your local stop smoking service.

The clinics are there for you and offer help and a friendly service. The National Centre For Smoking Cessation and Training have reported that there is evidence that group treatment maybe more effective than one-to-one treatment and the impact of “buddy support” may vary based on treatment type. There is also support every year during Stoptober, 28 days of encouragement to stop smoking.

3. Get Online Support.

The NHS offer a comprehensive online support service, the Smokfree website is there 24/7 and offers a range of evidence-based support. Ideal for those sticky moments we all have when going through the process. You can always get reminders online of why you are quitting by visiting the NHS YT channel  that has a number of good videos that detail smoking related harm issues.

4. Emergency?

Did you know there is a national Smokefree helpline open 7 days a week – call the number when you are at your weakest and you can talk to a trained adviser, it may just help prevent you lighting up that one single critical cigarette.

0300 123 1044. Use it!

5. Chat online with a sympathetic adviser.

Your thinking about quitting but haven’t done anything yet, you feel that you want to but don’t know where to start. Why not simply have an online chat. Its relaxed and there is no pressure, just someone to talk to that can help. You never know where it may lead. It could be your first step to freedom!

You may be sitting there, a day or a month into the quitting process, things have gone bad at work and you feel weak and the craving starts – before it gets any further chat online, it may make the difference!

6. Consider a nicotine substitute.

The NHS have moved with the times and accept that some people could benefit from alternative nicotine methods including NRT and electronic cigarettes.

Read more from the NHS about e-cigarettes to help quit smoking.

Find Your Local Stop Smoking Service

Help is there, it costs you nothing and it may help you take the first step in your journey to becoming a non-smoker, a year from now how would it be if you simply did not need to buy or smoke a cigarette. Breathe!

7. Get a Free NHS personalized health score.

Want a quick 10-minute quiz to check “How are You?” The NHS can help here too!

More evidence?

Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services: England

This is the report from the NHS which monitors the Stop Smoking Services in England.

• 215,645 people set a quit date and at the 4-week follow-up 107,422 people (50 per cent) had successfully quit (self-reported).
• 78,400 (73%) of these successful quitters had their results confirmed by Carbon Monoxide verification.
• Quitting success increased with age, from 41 per cent of those aged under 18, to 56 per cent of those aged 60 and over.
• 46 per cent of the pregnant women who set a quit date successfully quit.
• 77600 (36%) of people accessed Stop Smoking Services through their GP.
• 80 per cent of people used one-to-one support to help themselves quit smoking.

So lots of people are being successful, so you too can stop with proper support.

Still Not Convinced?

1. Children are more likely to smoke if their parents smoke.

2. Hospital admissions

• There were estimated to be around 474 thousand hospital admissions attributable to smoking in 2015/16, which was an increase from 458 thousand in 2005/06.
• As a proportion of all admissions, this has fallen to 4 per cent from 6 per cent in 2005/06.

3. Deaths

• There were estimated to be around 79 thousand deaths attributable to smoking in 2015. This represents 16 per cent of all deaths.

4. E-cigarettes 

• There were an estimated 2.4 million current e-cigarette users in 2016, representing around 5 per cent of adults.

5. Expenditure

• In 2016, tobacco was 27 per cent less affordable than it was in 2006

Other Resources to Help You Quit.

England

Quit. A charity organisation

Tel: 0800 002200

www.quit.org.uk

The NHS Tel: 0800 1690169

www.nhs.uk/smokefree/

Wales

National Smoking Cessation Service Tel: 0800 0852219

National Smokers Helpline Tel: 0800 1690169

Northern Ireland

Smokers Quitline Tel: 0800 85 85 85

Sources:

NCTS

NHS

What is CBD vape oil?

CBD vape oil, also known as cannabidiol oil, is a controversial oil used for health purposes. CBD is the name given to a particular compound found in the cannabis plant. It belongs to a group of over 113 compounds found in the plant called cannabinoids. In its oil form it can be absorbed by vaping.

The most well-known cannabinoid is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It is known to produce mind-altering effects in users and it is the chemical that is responsible for giving recreational cannabis its effects. But researchers have discovered that another compound present in recreational cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), does not contain mind-altering effects that affect the body. CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it does not change the way the brain functions or perceives things. Instead, CBD produces other significant effects in the body, and scientists are researching the medical benefits that it has.

Farmers have selectively bred recreational cannabis to be high in THC, which is the compound that makes users feel “high”. However, as research on CBD has progressed, more time and effort is being put into utilising the positive effects of CBD. This is why CBD is now being isolated and turned into oil form to be used in a variety of ways including vaping. When vaping with CBD vape oil ensure it is from a reputable specialist supplier such as Vsavi, use only pharmaceutical grade CBD oil containing no additives or flavourings.

How Does CBD Work?

Much like other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, CBD attaches to different receptors in the body to produce a positive health benefit. By removing THC, the compound that gives cannabis its recreational qualities, you are essentially left with a compound that has many potentially positive effects. Because of the way CBD acts, it can be taken in a variety of different ways. CBD oil can be applied to the skin, inhaled through vaping or even taken orally.

CBD Oil Extraction Methods

There three main methods of commercially extracting CBD oil from the cannabis plant, Ethanol, Olive oil and CO2 extraction. Of the three methods CO2 extraction is the most expensive method requiring laboratory conditions but it also produces a pure product free from chlorophyll and an overall safer and perhaps more powerful CBD oil. The CO2 method is an important commercial extraction method because of its zero environmental impact and its extremely low toxicity. Mr P. Hunt, of Vsavi.co.uk who specialise in the marketing of CBD oil in both sublingual (CBD tongue drops) and CBD vape oil form explains: “CO2 extraction is used in a number of commercial applications that require high pressure CO2 which creates an extremely low temperature. Most of us have seen or heard of “dry ice”. CBD oil can be isolated and non-toxic pharmaceutical grade pure CBD oil can be extracted under stable conditions which yields clean CBD oil with little or no denaturing.”

Health Benefits of CBD

Because CBD does not contain the mind-altering compound found in regular strains of cannabis, it can be effectively used as a form of medicine. Although it is considered a safe substance, there are a few side effects that are mostly minor. You might experience an unpleasant dry sensation in the mouth, but this can be prevented by drinking more water. A high dosage can cause light-headedness and drowsiness, but these effects can be mitigated with some rest.

Can CBD Vape Oil Help you to Quit Smoking?

There is promising evidence which shows that CBD oil can help a patient reduce their smoking addiction. A study of CBD by The National Institutes of Health found that smokers who inhaled CBD smoked 40% fewer cigarettes. The compound managed to curb cravings for more nicotine, which is the addictive chemical found in tobacco. More research is needed, but currently CBD oil is showing promise as anti-addiction medication that can help patients avoid or lower withdrawal symptoms. CBD vaping may well be shown conclusively to aid in quitting smoking.

Epilepsy and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

CBD is being studied as a possible treatment for epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. It has been noted that CBD can be useful for controlling seizures, and studies suggest that it could be used to treat a number of neurodegenerative disorders that are linked to epilepsy. Another study has shown that CBD could have similar effects to antipsychotic drugs, meaning it could be used to treat patients that suffer from schizophrenia. New research has put CBD in a positive light as a potential alternative to antipsychotic medication when used in small doses that do not hinder a patient’s motor function.

CBD and Natural Pain Relief

Studies have shown that CBD can be a natural way to reduce swelling and pain. It can also help with inflammation and overall discomfort that is related to health conditions. CBD shows a great deal of promise when it comes to alternative treatments for chronic pain conditions. However, more trials are required before scientists can come to a solid conclusion on the effects CBD has on pain. Research has shown that the anti-inflammation properties of CBD could drastically change how we deal with arthritis pain in the future.

Cancer Fighting

CBD oil is also used by cancer sufferers. Studies have shown CBD oil to reduce the number of cancerous tumours in mice test subjects, but early research is also being carried out on humans. Currently, CBD is used to manage pain that is related to cancer.

Side Effects of CBD Oil

Studies show that using CBD oil does not pose any serious risk to users. There is a small possibility of experiencing sleep issues, feeling nauseated and becoming more irritable, but there are no major drawbacks that could harm the user’s long-term health when used over a long period of time. Unlike recreational cannabis, CBD oil is not addictive because it is extremely low in THC, meaning withdrawal symptoms are unlikely. On balance it would appear the potential benefits far outweigh the possible side effects.

Scientists are quickly discovering more beneficial uses for CBD oil and it is growing in popularity as an alternative treatment for a number of different conditions. Whether it is taken orally, inhaled with a CBD vaporizer or applied to the skin, there is no doubt that CBD oil possesses many positive health benefits.

I was surfing the web recently and came across the image below from the BeTobaccoFree.Gov website that shows how much time it takes to get healthier if you give up smoking and the improvement in your health over the following years.

What I found interesting was the immediate and mid-term improvements.  For example :-

20 Minutes

Your heart rate and blood pressure start to return to normal. You will feel more sensations in your hands and your legs. Your body will slowly start to clean itself from the nicotine, which can make you crave for another cigarette, but try and be persistent.

12 Hours

You inhale carbon monoxide when tobacco is burning and that bonds with your blood cells.  This in turn prevents oxygen bonding to your blood cells and can cause dangerous cardiovascular diseases.

You can cut that level of carbon monoxide in your blood back to normal by not smoking for 12 hours. Your oxygen levels will start to return to normal.

3 Months

Your respiratory system will start to get back to normal and you will start breathing more easily again. After three months of not smoking taking larger, deeper breaths becomes easier.

Microscopic hairs, called cilia, are found along your air passages and move in a sweeping motion to keep the air passages clean. But if harmful substances, such as cigarette smoke, are inhaled, the cilia stop functioning properly, causing health problems like bronchitis.  These cilia will repair and start to function normally again.

Within 9 Months

Your cough will start to drastically reduce, although when and by how much depends on how long you’ve been smoking as the lungs slowly continue to clean themselves and get rid of toxins.  As a result, you can be more physically active and you can start to do some cardio exercises without getting short of breath.

1 Year

Your risk of coronary heart disease is cut by a massive 50% !

As you can see from the infographic, some of the benefits of stopping smoking can be felt very quickly while other can take much longer – so the sooner you give up smoking the sooner you will be on the road to a healthier life.  What’s stopping you making the initial step on that path?

Smoking has many serious effects for your health and is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world. In the UK, over 80,000 people die from smoking-related problems every year. If you smoke or are thinking of smoking, you should take the time to consider what smoking does to your body.

Cancer
In addition to the addictive nicotine, cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemicals. So far, around 70 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer. Lung cancer is the most common kind of cancer to develop from smoking, but smoking can also lead to cancer in the mouth, throat, nose, stomach, colon, and many other parts of the body.

Respiratory System
In addition to lung cancer, smoking can cause many other problems for your respiratory system. In a very short time, smoking can lead to frequent coughing, colds, wheezing, and asthma. It can also lead to more serious conditions such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic bronchitis. In addition, smoking greatly increases your risk for potentially fatal diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Heart and Circulation
The toxins entering your body from smoking damage both your heart and your blood cells. Smoking will make your blood thicker, increasing the risk of clots. It also increases your heart rate, raises your blood pressure, and shrinks your arteries. These effects greatly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In fact, smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-smokers.

Bones
Smoking has been shown to lead to decreased bone density over time. This is a significant factor in leading to bone loss, in addition to weaker bones that are more likely to fracture and break. Women who smoke are at a much higher risk of getting osteoporosis.

Fertility
For men, smoking can lead to a lower sperm count. It can also cause damage to the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis, leading to impotence. In women, smoking has been shown to cause irregular menstrual cycles and lower fertility. On average, couples in which at least one partner smokes take significantly longer to conceive a child than couples who do not smoke.

These are only some of the harmful effects of smoking. Other side effects include gum disease, premature aging, wrinkles, increased risk of ulcers, weakened immune system, higher risk of diabetes, and cataracts.

Advice to help you break the smoking habit and stay on track

You already know that smoking has many negative effects on your health. Quitting, however, can be extremely difficult. Whether you’ve started smoking recently or have been smoking for decades, cigarettes have likely become both a physical addition and a psychological, social habit.

This makes quitting difficult on multiple levels. With good planning and perseverance, however, quitting is possible. The right quitting plan is different for everyone, and your doctor is the best person to advise you on the best individualized treatment. These tips are meant as a general guide to help you quit successfully.

Step 1: Make a Plan

Planning ahead can help to make your efforts to quit more effective. First, pick date as your “quit date.” Ideally, choose something 1-3 weeks in the future: enough to give you time to prepare without losing your motivation. In the intervening time, try to taper down your cigarette use.

This will make the symptoms of withdrawal easier to deal with. You should also use this time to assess the nature of your addiction. Think about what factors are linked to your smoking: is it stress related? Do you smoke in certain places or around certain people? Do you smoke after meals? This awareness will help you avoid temptations when possible and steel yourself to deal with them when they occur.

Step 2: Find a Support System

Having a support system can be very helpful when going through the process of quitting. Tell your family and close friends that you’ll be quitting. They will probably be happy for you and more than willing to be supportive throughout the process. Informing others that you’re quitting will also help to hold you accountable.

If you have other friends who smoke, ask if any of them are interested in quitting together. Quitting with a partner can be a great way to have mutual support. The two of you can even find an alternate activity, such as going for walks, to do together at a time when you would usually be smoking.

Step 3: Improve Your Environment

Removing the temptation to smoke from your nearby environment can go a long way to prevent you from reaching for a cigarette when you feel a craving.

Clean out cigarettes and ashtrays from your home, car, and office. Try giving the carpets, upholstery, and drapes a thorough cleaning as well. Getting rid of the smell of smoke can help you to feel like you’re making a fresh start.

Step 4: Cope with Cravings and Withdrawal

One of the most difficult things about quitting is dealing with cravings and nicotine withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms usually peak a couple of days after you stop smoking.

They differ for everyone, but they will decrease over time. In addition to cravings, withdrawal can cause fatigue, irritability, hunger, and coughing. Make sure to stay hydrated, avoid caffeine in the evening, and stock up on healthy snacks.

Plan out a list of alternate activities for when cravings or stress strike. Walks outside, yoga, working out at the gym, baths, and reading can all help to take your mind off of cravings and relax your body. You may also want to use some form of medication, such as a nicotine patch or nicotine gum. Your doctor can advise you on the best medicine for you and prescribe you something to help you deal with withdrawal while you quit.

Step 5: Get help from the NHS

The NHS offers help and advice through 7 different smoking cessation services – read more about these services here

Electronic Cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are becoming increasingly popular. If you’re a smoker, you may be considering switching to them from traditional cigarettes. In fact, e-cigarettes come with a number of benefits that you may want to know about.

What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes look very similar to real cigarettes, made up of a cylindrical tube with a glowing end. But instead of producing smoke, they produce vapour that looks and feels like smoke without all of its detrimental effects. E-cigarettes contain a battery and a heating element that heats up liquid nicotine and any flavourings. The user inhales and exhales vapour produced from the liquid nicotine. e cigarettes come in different sizes and formats including vape pens, shisha pens and vape and box mods.

E-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to normal cigarettes
E-cigarettes are still a new technology, so no long term studies can confirm whether they are better for smokers than traditional cigarettes. What we can say for certain is that they use vapour instead of smoke, which avoids many negative effects.

In particular, the vapour from e-cigarettes is not harmful to bystanders in the way that second-hand smoke is. We believe that e-cigarettes will also reduce the risk for a host of other health problems that come from smoking. The lack of smoke also means that e-cigarettes do not have the unpleasant and clinging smell associated with cigarettes

E-cigarettes make it easier to quit
If you’re looking to quit smoking altogether but have found it difficult to do so, e-cigarettes can be a great halfway step. E-cigarettes can help to stabilize levels of nicotine in the blood and over time reduce the desire to smoke.

E-cigarettes can save you money
Any smoker knows that the cost of buying cigarettes is high. E-cigarettes are not subject to the same taxation as traditional cigarettes, making them much cheaper for consumers.

The cost of buying a starter kit may be comparatively expensive, but over time maintaining e-cigarettes is very cheap, about half the cost of buying packs of cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are allowed in most establishments
E-cigarettes are not regulated by the government the same way that traditional cigarettes are. This means that unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes are allowed within most restaurants and other buildings. They do not produce smoke or odour, so they will not bother the people around you. Using e-cigarettes means that you can smoke without the inconvenience of leaving the building or separating yourself from your friends and family.