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In Part 2 of “Quit Smoking, It Kills”, we show you that it is possible to quit smoking with some useful tips from the experts. Readers can also show their support to Healthy Times anti-smoking campaign by going to http://www.e-healthytimes.com/quitsmoking/

Be Inspired By Others

MediaCorp artiste Yvonne Lim who is quitting for good shares that it “takes a lot of courage to quit,” being a 5-year addict herself. She blogged about her 30-day smoke free challenge on the FAFW website www.freshair.sg, hoping to inspire fellow smokers to quit. Ambassadors of the STRONG campaign include Sloane Clinic’s Dr Low Chai Ling, Perfect 10 DJ Shan Wee and Fly Entertainment artiste Mindee Ong. How’s that for motivation?

The Quit Advisors

We speak to Samantha Lai, a pharmacist from Guardian Health and Beauty, who says that the basis of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is to substitute the nicotine in the cigarette, preventing a sudden drop in concentration of nicotine in the body. This in turn lessens the withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings.

There are a few types such as nicotine gum, inhaler, lozenges or patches, all available over the counter at pharmacy outlets, without a prescription. Embarking on NRT requires commitment as each regimen lasts for a few weeks. This involves starting from a higher dose of nicotine as recommended by your pharmacist, which then tapers down until you are weaned off cigarettes.

Do note that nicotine gum is not suitable for those with dentures while nicotine patches may not be the best choice for more hirsute people. The inhaler may be better for smokers who are used to the hand-to-mouth action of smoking.

Most pharmaceuticals provide a customised quit smoking plan which includes a personal consultation with a pharmacist who will assess you with a series of questions, including the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire, to determine your level of nicotine addiction, frequency, dependence and smoking pattern. Any underlying medical problems will be noted and if necessary, a suitable NRT product will be recommended. Our Quit Advisors will share with you pertinent quit advice as mentioned above and regular follow-ups will be done after the session to support you along the way.

What Else

If NRT doesn’t work for you, you may consider prescriptive drugs such as Buproprion Hydrochloride, which needs to be started 1-2 weeks before the actual quit date.

For The Better

Have you noticed that our nightlife has been rather different for a while now? Yes, the smoking ban has led to cleaner air indoors. In fact, you may walk out of a club and realise that the air quality inside is much better. Say goodbye to stinky clothes and hair! And here’s to a less foggy 2009!

Do join and support us at our Healthy Times Magazine Anti-Smoking Campaign………

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