No Smoking Day takes place on the 12 March and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the Quit Your Way programme delivered across our isles by the NHS Shetland Health Improvement team.
Smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death globally. The Quit Your Way programme is delivered by friendly, non-judgmental, and encouraging advisors who are trained in techniques for smoking cessation. They are available to work with you to increase and reinforce your motivation and readiness to quit - and be that ear to listen to how smoking fits into your life and why you want to quit.
When you stop smoking tobacco and have had that last cigarette, your health starts to improve immediately as a result. Within a short period, your heart rate and blood pressure can reduce as nicotine and carbon monoxide start to leave your body. Within days your sense of taste and smell improves, and your lungs start to clear out mucus. Within weeks your breathing can improve, and exercise feels easier; and so, the health improvements continue. Stopping smoking is also associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, stress and general wellbeing.
The Health Improvement Team wants to reassure anyone feeling hesitant to reach out by reminding them that they are not alone and have a flexible programme that can be delivered face to face, over the phone, or via video-call or a combination of these.
Verona Johnson, Health Improvement Practitioner at NHS Shetland, shared further information: “Stopping smoking in a remote and rural community can be difficult for many reasons, and getting in touch to ask for support can often be a challenging first step. The Quit Your Way programme usually takes 12-weeks to complete, but if you need support in the lead up, and afterwards, we can provide that too. Your first session will usually take place before you set your quit date. However, you can still contact the stop smoking service if you’ve already stopped and are looking for support or extra help.
“By focussing on making lifestyle changes that work for you, this will hopefully make your quit feel more achievable. Within a session, we will explore reducing triggers that might tempt you to consider reaching for a cigarette, for example, by changing routines and avoiding smoking environments. Our behavioural support also covers things like boosting your motivation, tackling habits, sharing helpful resources and social support and how to maintain your quit long-term.”
The Health Improvement Team is also a vaping (e-cigarette) friendly service. If you would prefer to stop smoking using a vape, they can support you to do this. They do not supply vapes, but the team is trained to discuss the use of vapes as a stop smoking tool and can support you to choose the best approach for you. If you want to stop vaping, the team can support you with this also.
Verona Johnson added: “We have strong links with local GPs and health centres, alongside community pharmacies, which ensures that we can provide joined up care throughout your quit.”
Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available throughout Shetland from your local community pharmacies, without behavioural support.
NHS Shetland Health Improvement Team works across the length and breadth of Shetland and strives to ensure that everyone living and working in Shetland has access to the knowledge and opportunities needed to allow individuals and communities to take more control over and improve their health and well-being.
For further information:
- Quit Your Way Scotland has a free national helpline, 0800 84 84 84, which can provide advice and support during the week between the hours of 9am -5pm.
- To contact the NHS Shetland Health Improvement Team, please call 01595 743330 or visit https://www.healthyshetland.com/quityourway/ to complete a Referral Form
- How to stop smoking | NHS inform