Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is a programme of treatment and support to help you stop smoking. It can include:

• One-to-one therapy
• group therapy
• stop-smoking aids such as nicotine replacement therapy 
• medications like bupropion (Zyban) 

It is well known that smoking harms our health and makes us more likely to develop diseases like lung cancer, and heart disease. 

Giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, but quitting cigarettes isn’t easy. 

Smoking cessation programmes provide practical advice, support, and encouragement to make it easier for you to quit smoking for good. 

Cigarettes contain over 5,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful to your health. One of these is a substance called nicotine. 

Nicotine is a stimulant that briefly relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is highly addictive —possibly as addictive as heroin and cocaine. 

Between cigarettes, nicotine levels in the brain drop causing a craving for more. There is also a psychological association between cigarettes and feeling calmer. Many smokers link the feeling of calm with lighting their next cigarette which reinforces the addiction. 

A small number of people find it easy to stop smoking cold turkey —that is, on their own without any support, but the majority of smokers struggle to quit smoking this way. Some smokers, particularly heavy smokers or those who have been smoking for a long time can find it more difficult than others to quit. 

The good news is that help, and support is available to help anyone stop smoking. People who stop smoking with professional help are much more likely to be successful than those who try and give up alone. 

The NHS provides free stop-smoking services to help you quit smoking for good. The service is run by specially trained advisors who provide practical help, encouragement, and support.

There are several options available to help you stop smoking. Try a combination to see which works best for you. 

One-to-one therapy

Your local stop-smoking service will start by offering you a one-to-one appointment with an advisor. Your advisor may start by asking you some questions about why you smoke and why you want to stop. They may ask you whether you’ve tried to stop smoking before and help you decide on a quit date. 

Your advisor may offer you a breath test to measure the level of carbon monoxide in your body. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas found in cigarette smoke. The test can be a useful motivator when stopping smoking as you’ll be able to see your level drop to that of a non-smoker just 48 hours after your last cigarette. 

It’s fine to reach out to your stop smoking service even if you’re not sure if you’re ready to quit. Talking things through with an advisor can often help you come to a decision. 

Therapy sessions normally start a week or two before you quit smoking. Sessions are normally once a week and can be held in person, or by phone or video.  You will usually continue to have sessions for 4 weeks after your last cigarette. 

Group therapy 

Some stop-smoking services also offer group therapy sessions. Many people benefit from group therapy as it allows you to give and receive support and share your difficulties and progress with others going through the same thing. 

A 2017 study found that smokers who attended 6 to 8 group therapy sessions were almost twice as likely to quit smoking as those following a self-help programme. 

Stop smoking aids 

At your first smoking cessation session, your advisor will discuss stop-smoking aids such as: 

• nicotine replacement therapy such as gum, patches, lozenges, nasal and mouth sprays 
• medications like bupropion (Zyban) 

Whether or not you decide to use stop smoking aids is up to you, but they are often recommended because they increase your chance of success. 

Stop smoking aids may be given to you at your session, or you may be given a prescription or voucher to get them from your local pharmacy. 

Electronic cigarettes 

E-cigarettes contain nicotine may help you stop smoking if you gradually reduce their use over time. They contain far fewer toxic chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide and are thought to be less harmful to your health than regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes are not completely harmless, however, and are not recommended if you are a non-smoker or under 18 years of age. 

Some recent research has shown that e-cigarettes may be harmful, due to the content of nicotine and other chemicals. So they should only be used as a stepping stone to stopping completely. 

E-cigarettes are not currently available on prescription, but you can buy them from specialist shops, some pharmacies and online. 

Find a stop-smoking service near you: 

In England

In Scotland

In Wales 

In Northern Ireland

Your body starts to recover just minutes after your last cigarette and your health continues to improve significantly over time.  

• After 20 minutes —Your pulse rate returns to normal

• After 8 hours—your carbon monoxide levels are reduced by half and your oxygen levels begin to increase
• After 48 hours —All carbon monoxide has been removed from your system. Your lungs begin to clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell start to improve
• After 72 hours  —your airways start to relax making your breathing feel easier. You will probably have more energy. 
• After 2 to 12 weeks —your blood circulation starts to improve
• After 3 to 9 months —your lungs begin to work better reducing coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulties
• After 1 year —your risk of heart attack will have halved  
• After 10 years  — your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared to a smoker

An online doctor can help with smoking cessation by offering advice and support on quitting smoking. They can also recommend or prescribe medication and stop-smoking aids like nicotine replacement therapy. An online doctor can also help you get in touch with stop-smoking services in your area. 

It’s easy to book an appointment with an NHS-trained GP at Medicspot. Simply click the link and select an appointment at a time and day that suits you. Appointments are often available the same day. 

A pharmacist can provide information and advice about stop-smoking aids like nicotine replacement therapy and E-cigarettes. Many pharmacists can also refer you to your local stop-smoking service

Find a pharmacy near you 

Smoking is a common habit that has serious implications for our health. Stopping smoking can be hard, but you are far more likely to quit for good with the right help and support. 

If you want to stop smoking and would like to talk to a doctor, make an appointment today. 

NHS: NHS stop smoking services help you quit August 17th 2022 (Accessed December 9th 2022) 

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence August 2022 Accessed December 9th 2022) 

Asthma and Lung UK: Why is it so hard to stop smoking? September 30th 2019 Accessed December 9th 2022) 

 NHS Better Health: Quit smoking  Accessed December 9th 2022) 

National Institute for Health and Care Research:  Group therapy may help a few extra people quit smoking, if other methods fail  July 11th 2017 Accessed December 9th 2022)