Going smoke free

Quitting smoking is never easy. But once you succeed, you will enjoy immeasurable benefits to your health. Your pharmacist can be a valuable ally in your quest for a smoke-free life.

Statistics that speak volumes!  

Tobacco cessation statistics speak for themselves. After one year, an ex-smokers’ risk of developing cardiovascular disease is cut in half. After ten years, the risk of lung cancer is reduced by 30 to 50% compared to smokers. After 15 years, the risk of coronary events is like that of a non-smoker.
Many benefits are felt immediately from the first day without smoking: improvement of taste, smell, and breath, among others. After only 24 hours, the impact on your health is positive; for example, your breathing capacity improves, your blood pressure decreases, and your pulse rate returns to normal!

If you want to quit smoking, know that pharmacological help can double or triple your chances of quitting! It allows you to feel good physically and to focus, for example, on changing and interrupting your smoking habits and rituals.

Learning to resist

Certain situations can trigger your cravings: drinking coffee or alcohol, stress, anger, driving, etc. Everyone is different, so try to identify what causes your cravings. Anticipate your triggers and keep a few things in mind to resist them.

Here are a few tips:

• Drink cold water at times when you used to smoke.
• Use relaxation and breathing techniques.
• Keep your hands busy with a pencil, paper clip or stress ball.
• Talk with a friend.
• Go for a walk.

Remember the benefits of quitting smoking. Focus on achieving your goal. It is essential to know that relapse is sometimes part of the quitting process, not seeing it as a failure. Discuss it with your pharmacist! He will be able to support and motivate you.

Pharmacological aids

Your family pharmacist can help you choose the right drug therapy based on your health and needs. He may even prescribe it to you after an assessment.

For example, he may prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) if it is the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

NRT is available in various forms: oral spray, inhaler, lozenges, gum and patches. These products help reduce withdrawal symptoms by giving the body the nicotine it craves.

Always following an evaluation of your condition, other types of medication (oral medication), could also be prescribed by your pharmacist as part of your quitting process. Consult your pharmacist for further information on this subject. 

Pharmacy services

Wherever you are in your thought process, don’t hesitate to talk to your family pharmacist about your intention to quit smoking. They will be happy to guide you along the path to a smoke-free life.

*Uniprix-affiliated pharmacy owners offer the pharmacy services presented in this section. Pharmacists are solely responsible for the professional activities performed in pharmacy practice.