Share

Sponsored: Are you ready to put down that cigarette?

accreditation
Stop smoking, supplied by Pfizer
Stop smoking, supplied by Pfizer

The addiction potential of tobacco smoking as well as the difficulty to quit is often underestimated by smokers.

Smoking,alongside heroin, is seen as the substance with the highest “pure addiction potential”. 1

Why is it difficult to stop smoking?
The nicotine in cigarettes triggers the dopamine level in your brain and this stimulates the desire and reward system. 1

The brain gets used to the level of nicotine and needs more or stronger stimulation to reach its reward state. 1

This is why the more you smoke the more you want to smoke. 1 Your brain also associates certain situations with smoking, e.g. smoke break, coffee drinking and learned behaviour such as reaching for the packet of cigarettes.1

Now’s your time to start
Start with a plan and write down the reasons why you want to stop smoking: 2

Claim back 2–3 months of life expectancy for every year you quit I

  • Reduce your risk of a heart attack
  • Stop damage to your lungs
  • Limit your chances of getting cancer
  • Reduce stress levels
  • Better mood
  • YOLO*

*You only live once

There are medications that can help you on your journey to a smoke-free life.

Speak to a medical professional about treatment options. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) give you a low dose of nicotine to help relieve the physical withdrawal symptoms. 3

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about smoking cessation options to help you start a smoke-free life!

I For people over the age of 35 years
References:1. Muehlig S. Tobacco Addiction. In: Psychiatric Disorders - Trends and Developments. (Ed) Uehara T. [online] 2011 Oct 26 [cited 2020 June 23]. Available from: URL: http://www.intechopen.com/books/psychiatric-disorders-trendsand-developments/tobacco-addiction. 2. West R. Tobacco smoking: Health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions. Psychol Health.2017 Apr;32(8):1018-1036. 3. Jordan CJ, Xi Z-X. Discovery and development of varenicline for smoking cessation. Expert Opin Drug Discov. 2018 Jul;13(7):671–683.Breakthroughs thatchange patients’lives

Licence Holder: Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd. Reg. No. 1954/000781/07. 85 Bute Lane, Sandton, 2196, South Africa. Tel. No.: 0860 PFIZER (734937).Website: www.Pfizer.co.za PP-CHM-ZAF-0082


stop smoking

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE