|
AN ASTONISHING 24 per cent of all deaths in Scotland every year are the result of smoking and yet many of us continue to puff away regardless.
Last week saw this year’s No Smoking Day and The Argyllshire Advertiser met the woman whose job it is to help people in Mid Argyll and Tarbert give up the weed.
Elspeth Shaw was at Mid Argyll Hospital to talk to people and provide information on what she can do to help people kick the habit.
Smokers are four times more likely to succeed at stopping if they are part of a group, are seeing a smoking cessation adviser or have nicotine replacement therapy or medication.
Elspeth said: ‘When people come in to see us for the first time we can discuss ways that they want to stop smoking, whether its nicotine replacement therapy or by medication. There are also some who choose to go ‘cold turkey’ with added behavioural support. But it has to be their choice so that they feel they are in control.
‘They can then choose a ‘quit-date’, that is significant because they are in control. Some people choose to stop on a Monday because they might be out socialising at the weekend.
‘We will talk about the personal rewards of stopping. You very quickly feel better, your hair is clean, your clothes don’t smell and you have money in your pocket to spend on other things.
‘People can save the money they would otherwise spend on cigarettes each week to do something nice for themselves, perhaps a meal out or something. It’s a reward system to reinforce that belief in yourself that you have done something positive.
‘There are also support groups where people who are trying to stop can meet up and give each other moral support. Don’t be afraid to try and quit – come and see me.’
Elspeth said one of the nicest stories she had heard was a young mum who would pay £5, which she would otherwise have spent on cigarettes, every night into a bank account and was able to take her children on holiday abroad for the first time at the end of that year.
‘But it’s the dads more than the mums who want to quit,’ added Elspeth.
‘Dads decide they want to see their kids and grandchildren growing up and want to play football with them. Some of them get breathless and don’t like it, so they feel much better when they have stopped.’
Spence Thompson, who has smoked for 42 years, gave up the habit about three weeks ago with help from Elspeth.
The 53-year-old, who works in Lochgilphead Co-op, was referred to the smoking cessation adviser after visiting his GP.
He said: ‘Stopping smoking has helped my health in general. I used patches and an inhaler. The inhaler is good because it is a ‘cigarette’ you can smoke on the bus. I loved Elspeth’s attitude. She said, ‘don’t worry, if that doesn’t work we’ll trying something else’.
‘The idea is if you want to give up, you can do it. She told me the best success she had was with a drug called Champex. On the first day I stopped smoking I made sure I had no tobacco. I really do think the Champex helps, it really takes the clawing the walls feeling away.’
Now Spence has his eye on a new shooting rifle with all the money he has saved by not smoking.
‘Once you’ve kicked the habit you have to remember you don’t smoke anymore,’ added Spence.
‘If you smoke all it’s going to do is start you on the slippery slope again. So many of us forget that we are not smokers anymore.’
