Cigarette smoke contains several harmful substances that are a threat to both active and passive smokers. Some of the substances found in cigarette smoke are:

1. Nicotine
   Nicotine enters the bloodstream and stimulates the brain giving smokers a feeling of alertness and energy. Nicotine is highly addictive and you may experience some withdrawal symptoms as you decide to quit, such as:
   • Craving for nicotine/food
   • Anxiety
   • Restlessness
   • Headache
   • Irritability
   • Dizziness
   • Constipation
   • Lack of concentration
2. Tar
   Tar in cigarette smoke gets deposited in your lungs and may be carried to other parts of your body. There are over 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke including 50 carcinogens which may cause cancer.
3. Carbon Monoxide
   This is a dangerous gas contained in cigarette smoke and it adversely affects the ability of your bloodstream to carry oxygen. The presence of Carbon Monoxide in cigarette smoke is the reason why pregnant women are strongly advised to not smoke and to not expose themselves to cigarette smoke in anyway. It can have a bad effect on the growth of the unborn baby.

Smoking can have many ill effects on your overall health, it can also lead to long-term health issues and complications in your body. Smoking has widely been described as the most preventable cause of death. The important thing to remember is, that quitting smoking can reverse the harmful effects over time. Here is a look at the symptoms and overall effect of smoking on your health.

Smoking can cause widespread damage to your health, it may also adversely affect some conditions you already have and worsen them. Here's a brief look at some of the conditions caused or made worse by smoking:

1. Lung Cancer: More than 8 in 10 cases of lung cancer are directly related to smoking. This is one of the most common causes of smoking-related deaths in the UK.
2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a distressing condition caused by regular Smoking. COPD makes it difficult for you to breathe and may result in a long-term cough.
3. Heart Diseases: Cigarette Smoking may also cause heart diseases and have long-term effects on the function of your heart.
4. Stroke: Cigarette Smoking can make you more susceptible to a stroke. Experts say that smokers are up to six times more likely to have a stroke compared to non-smokers.
5. Infertility: Both male and female smokers are more likely to have reduced fertility or infertility issues as compared to non-smokers.
6. Erectile Dysfunction: Men who smoke regularly can experience erectile dysfunction due to damage to blood vessels in the penis due to smoking.
7. Other conditions that may worsen due to smoking: Asthma, Influenza, chest or bronchial infections, gastritis, tuberculosis, hyperthyroidism, and Crohn’s disease.

Smoking in pregnancy puts both the mother and the unborn child at risk of complications and potentially even jeopardises the pregnancy. Here’s a look at the risks of smoking in pregnancy:

1. Miscarriage
2. Complications such as bleeding during pregnancy, detachment of the placenta, premature birth, and ectopic pregnancy.
3. Babies born to smoking mothers may have a low birth weight.
4. Congenital defects in the baby.
5. Increased risk of stillbirth or death within the first week of life.

Smoking can not only put your health at risk but also the health of your loved ones and others around you. Some of the effects of passive smoking include:

• Children in the same house as a smoker can be prone to respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chest infections.
• Children living with smokers have a higher than average chance of becoming smokers themselves.
• Increased risk of lung and other cancers for people regularly exposed to passive smoking.
• Pregnant women who are exposed to passive smoke run the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and complications for the baby.

Smokers are often motivated to quit but do not know how to quit smoking as it can be quite a challenging addiction to break. The best way to stop smoking for you may be different from others. Some people can quit simply based on strong willpower. However, this is a difficult method and may lead to a relapse. Other methods include nicotine replacement therapies and prescription treatments such as Champix.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine Replacement Therapy is a medication that delivers a small amount of nicotine into your system, without the tar, carbon monoxide, and other harmful chemicals that can otherwise enter your body through tobacco smoke. The small, regular doses of nicotine help in coping with withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, mood swings, headaches, and irritability. This includes nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges, and nicotine chewing gum.

MedsNow stocks a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medicines to help you quit smoking. Check out our range of recommended medicines and get them delivered discreetly to your doorstep today.

Some medicines recommended for stopping smoking include:

• Nicotine Lozenges(Nicotinell Mint Lozenges and NiQuitin Minis Mint Lozenges)

Nicotine lozenges are a rapid relief product for those battling withdrawal symptoms when quitting Smoking. Lozenges are helpful not just in relieving nicotine cravings but also in oral cravings.

• Nicotinell Chewing Gum

Nicotine gum is also an effective option for nicotine replacement therapies. Nicotine from the gum is absorbed into your body through your palate and the inner surface of your mouth and not the stomach.

• Zyban

Zyban tablets are a prescription medicine that reduces nicotine cravings and helps quit smoking. This medicine does not contain nicotine but works on the chemicals in the brain to reduce the craving for nicotine.

• Champix

Champix (varenicline) is a partial nicotine agonist. This means, that it works by binding on the nicotine receptors to give your body a mild effect as if you have had a smoke. It also helps in reducing the pleasure you get from smoking to reduce nicotine withdrawal. Gradually your body will wean off the need for smoking.

1. How long does it take to quit smoking?

   Your body usually takes 72 hours to clean out any nicotine left in your system after you quit smoking. You may continue to experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms for up to 1 to 3 months after you quit smoking depending upon your health and Smoking habits.

2. What is the best way to give up Smoking?

   The best way to quitting smoking depends on the extent of your smoking habit and your willpower to quit. Prescription options are proven to be most successful in aiding people in stopping smoking without relapses, compared to over-the-counter treatments.

3. What happens to your body when you stop smoking?

   When you quit smoking, your body begins to heal itself almost immediately after the last cigarette. Your blood pressure and pulse normalise over time, in the next few hours withdrawal symptoms, may begin. These symptoms can last for up to 3 months but are controlled with the right treatment until they eventually subside.

4. Why you should stop smoking?

   Stopping smoking increases your life expectancy and reduces the risk of lung diseases, heart diseases, infertility, cancer and stroke. Stopping smoking also helps you save money, and focus on important things in life.

5. How to help someone stop smoking?

   People who are on their way to quitting smoking need support from friends and family. If you want to help someone stop smoking, be supportive, lend a listening ear whenever needed, help them engage in activities that can take their mind off smoking, help with errands, etc.

6. Where can you go to get information on quitting smoking?

   MedsNow offers expert consultation to help you get any medical information and advice you need as well as treatment. Check our website for information on quitting smoking and our consultation page for more information. You could also browse the NHS Stop Smoking Page, as well as quit for life.