Saying 'goodbye' to smoking
Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do for your health. Smoking quadruples your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack and stroke (and can also increase risk of other disease, eg, lung cancer). Smokers die on average 14 years earlier than non-smokers.
Four excellent reasons to stop
- Within two days of quitting your ability to smell and taste improves.
- Within three months of quitting your circulation improves and you can breathe more easily.
- Within five years of quitting your risk of having a heart attack is reduced to the level of someone who has never smoked.
- Financially you will be better off.
How can I stop?
'Nicotine replacement' and quit support: Contact Quitline (0800 778 778) for free and confidential support, and subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) - or contact your doctor or practice nurse. NRT is safe and doubles your chances of quitting. It is available in various forms, eg, patches, gum, lozenge, inhaler and microtab (some forms may not be subsidised).
Non-nicotine options: Other types of treatment to assist you in quitting are available on prescription - ask your doctor about these.
Plan for the quit day:
- set a date to quit - choose a time when you are busy, but not under a lot of pressure
- throw out all tobacco products (to help avoid temptation)
- get help from friends and family
- 'buddy up' with someone else who is quitting.
There are many different ways to quit, so even if you have tried before, don’t lose heart. Your doctor, nurse or health professional can help find strategies that will work for you. Also see Quitting smoking for more information.
Check out other risk factors
See the links below for more information on tackling the individual risk factors you may need to address to have a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, remembering that they all work together to affect your risk level.
Also see: Know Your Numbers Heart Age Calculator
Do you need a heart risk assessment?
Original material provided by the Heart Foundation of New Zealand and the New Zealand Guidelines Group, March 2010. Edited by everybody, February 2011.
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