Healthy Lifestyle - Stopping Smoking
Public health programs, changes to the law, and the imposition of a heavy excise on cigarettes, have all contributed to a considerable reduction in smoking, and currently 20-25 per cent of adult Australians smoke.
However, smoking is three times more common among people with a mental illness such as schizophrenia, than in the general population. At least 75 per cent of people with schizophrenia smoke.
There are many good reasons to stop smoking:
A healthier and longer life
Smokers can expect to live 16 years less than non-smokers. During their lives smokers are more likely to experience years of debilitating illness and other problems such as gastric ulcers, Crohn's disease, tooth loss and gum disease, sperm abnormalities, male impotence, fertility problems, osteoporosis and early menopause.
People who quit smoking are much more likely to have a longer and healthier life.
Lower doses of antipsychotic medication
Nicotine increases the metabolism of some antipsychotic medications, which may mean that the dose needs to be increased - along with a corresponding increase in some side effects. For example, higher levels of akathisia (restlessness and agitation) and tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the upper body, usually the mouth) associated with some antipsychotics have been reported for smokers.
There is some evidence that people treated with the newer antipsychotic medications may smoke less than those on traditional antipsychotics.
Quitting may reduce the levels of antipsychotic medication needed to be effective.
Improved income
Smoking is expensive. Quitting smoking makes more cash available for other things.
Less social restriction
Recreational, sporting and community venues in Australia are increasingly designated as smoke-free zones. This limits the ability of smokers to participate in everyday life.
Improved appearance
The effects of heavy smoking include stained fingers and teeth, smoking odour and lined skin.
Reducing fire hazards in the home
Many people with a serious mental illness live in boarding houses, group homes, with parents or alone and there is a real risk of accidental fire caused by cigarettes. Smoking less and quitting reduces the danger of fire.
A sense of achievement
Even small steps towards quitting raise self-esteem and self-confidence soars as people realise they can take control over their lives.
For more on this see:
Source: www.quit.org.au
The benefits of quitting get better and better
- After twelve hours almost all of the nicotine is out of your system.
- After twenty-four hours the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically. You now have more oxygen in your bloodstream.
- After five days most nicotine by-products have gone.
- Within days your sense of taste and smell improves.
- Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery.
- Within two months your lungs will no longer be producing extra phlegm caused by smoking.
- After twelve months your increased risk of dying from heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.
- Stopping smoking reduces the incidence and progression of lung disease including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- After ten years of stopping your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present).
- After fifteen years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as that of a person who has never smoked.
"My smokes were like my best friend, always with me when I needed them. Amongst all the other stuff I had to do, I had to face the fact that this friend was killing me, slowly."
- Ken
