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Smoking
Thousands of people die prematurely each year from smoking related illnesses, with smoking doubling the risk of developing heart disease alone.

Although at any one time 70% of smokers say that they would like to stop smoking, only around 15% are actually ready to try, and most do not feel confident in their ability to succeed. Part of Have a Heart Paisley’s work has therefore included the provision of a local support service for anyone wishing to stop smoking.

Tips for Preparing to Quit

1. Name a quit day - It may be a few days or weeks away, but a day when you think you'll be ready
2. List your reasons for stopping - e,g, health, cost, pressure from family etc
3. Keep a note - Make a note of which cigarettes you feel you really couldn't do without. These will be the difficult ones to give up
4. Develop ways of coping - Work out how you will cope in different smoking situations. Change your routine: get up and do things in a different order
5. The night before Quit Day - have your last cigarette, and then get rid of everything to do with smoking, such as cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters
6. On your Quit Day - you are ready. You have made all your plans for coping, so put them into action
7. Take small steps and keep going - take each day at a time & encourage others to help you


If you do start smoking again, don't panic - it's not the end of the world. Forget about feeling guilty - you were in a tough situation. Stopping can take time. Take a break and when you are ready, try again.

For more information on smoking, visit our Health Behaviour Change Network or if you are thinking of stopping smoking you can receive free help and advice from:

Renfrewshire Stop Smoking Service

Tel No: 0141 314 0236



USEFUL LINKS

British Heart Foundation
ASH Scotland
No Smoking Day
GASP