Top tips revealed to help smokers quit

Not knowing how to manage cravings, dealing with stress and even putting on weight are some of the reasons why smokers struggle to quit.

So to give smokers a helping hand to kick the habit for good, we have revealed some of the secrets which have enabled us to help thousands of smokers in the county to give up by publishing a series of practical quitting tips.

The revelations come as part of our current ‘1,000 Smokers Wanted’ campaign, in which we are aiming to help 1,000 of Suffolk’s 87,000 smokers to quit over the next three months.

Henry Tapp is the Lead for Live Well Suffolk’s Stop Smoking Services. He said: “We know how difficult it is to stop smoking, but our specialist advisors have got loads of tips and tricks up their sleeves to help you on your journey. We hope that sharing a few of our top hints will give people a flavour of the support that we can offer and encourage them to join one of our free stop smoking sessions. Remember, with our help, you’re four times more likely to quit than you are if you go it alone.”

Our top tips for quitting smoking are:

• Manage cravings by making sure the nicotine replacement therapy you’re using (nicotine, gum, patches or tablets) is at the right dosage. We can help with this.
• Don’t substitute cravings with fatty or sugary foods. Try to choose healthier snacks, keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and be more active to avoid gaining weight.
• Changing your routine will help to stop you craving cigarettes when you would normally have one.
• The hand-to-mouth habit is often the hardest thing to overcome. Keep your hands occupied with a stress ball. Going for a short walk when you fancy a cigarette will also help to distract you and take your mind off smoking.
• Cravings typically last two to three minutes. Try some relaxation and breathing techniques to get you through it. This is also a good way to cope if you’re feeling stressed.

We are running a number of group sessions across Suffolk to coincide with the campaign and are also offering 1:1 sessions with one of the trained stop smoking advisors, which can take place at a time and location to suit you. If you would like us to help you to quit smoking, text QUIT to 80011, phone us on 01473 229292 or visit our website: www.livewellsuffolk.org.uk.