Cigarette smoking is the most avoidable cause of death and disability in Australia. It is an important public health issue considering that half of all smokers will die of a disease caused by smoking.
The most common health problems associated with smoking are diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, for example coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Yet, smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body. For almost all smokers, quitting is the single most important step that they can take to improve their future health. Health professionals have enormous potential to help people stop smoking. Young smokers stand to gain the most benefit from quitting, however there are health benefits to quitting at any stage of life.
Why is quitting so hard?
Smoking involves an addiction to a drug called nicotine. Smoking a cigarette delivers the first shot of nicotine from the lung to the brain within seconds. After reaching high levels during the smoking of a cigarette, blood nicotine levels drop to low levels within about two hours. If smokers are not able to smoke, they report feeling irritable, depressed and have a very strong desire to smoke.
Each smoker establishes his or her own preferred daily dose of nicotine. If the smoker tries to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, they tend to smoke each one more completely, which negates the benefit from reducing the number of cigarettes.
Nicotine addiction is not the only factor determining whether a smoker quits or continues to smoke. The social context of the smoker, such as whether friends or family smoke, is also important.
What helps people to quit?
Most people who try to stop smoking do not succeed on the first attempt. It can take several tries.
Simple advice by a health professional has been shown to result in quitting for 1 in 40 smokers. Yet, many health professionals are reluctant to raise the issue of smoking. They may not be confident that advice makes a difference, even though there is evidence that it does. They may not be confident they have the skills to counsel smokers and may think that there is insufficient time during a consultation.
People who are motivated enough to attend a counsellor will quit in 1 out of 13 cases.
The most effective strategy to stop smoking is the combination of drug treatment, usually nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and behavioural support. About 1 in 5 smokers who use NRT and have intensive support will quit long-term.
Who benefits from a smoker quitting? 
Obviously the person with the most to gain from quitting is the active smoker. But non-smokers, who have been passively exposed to cigarette smoke, also benefit when a smoker quits, particularly children.
It has been estimated that passive smoking is responsible for 19% of expenditure on childhood respiratory illness, for example asthma, bronchitis and middle ear infections. Despite this alarming statistic for parents, stopping for their own health is a good enough reason to quit smoking.
Pregnancy risks
Smoking during pregnancy directly causes harm to the unborn baby, increasing the risk of the baby being underweight, premature delivery and having a stillborn baby or baby who dies shortly after being born.
What can you do?
If you want to stop smoking talk to your health professional about how you feel about cigarette smoking and strategies you would like to explore to help you stop.
If you are a health professional, learn about the evidence and local services available to support smokers who want to quit. Use every reasonable opportunity to counsel smokers about quitting and support those who have started the journey to becoming a non-smoker.
| Health professionals will find referenced information from this article on The Jean Hailes Foundation website www.jeanhailes.org.au under the health professional section. |
Smoking facts and tips for women
Each year approximately 6,000 Australian women die prematurely from tobacco caused illness. 18% of Australian women aged 14 years or over are daily smokers.
How does smoking affect a woman’s health?
Tobacco smoking is a significant risk factor for a range of disabling and potentially fatal conditions. For women, cigarette smoking increases the risk of a number of gender-specific health problems. Women who smoke are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Women who smoke and take the contraceptive pill have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and this risk increases dramatically with age.
Smoking contributes to peripheral vascular disease (PVD), which occurs when blockages within the blood vessels prevent proper circulation. PVD can cause severe pain and may even lead to gangrene and amputation of a limb.
Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer in women.
Smoking increases the risk of other cancers. Women smokers are at greater risk of health problems relating to period pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pregnancy and their babies’ health, and menopause.
They are more likely to experience reduced fertility and delays in conceiving.
Women smokers may also face difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth. There is a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Women smokers are less likely to breastfeed. If they do, they tend to produce less breast milk and are more likely to wean their babies earlier. Smoking affects the breast milk, exposing babies to nicotine as well as altering the flavour of the milk.
Smoking increases the risk of developing chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases lead to progressive loss of lung function, making it harder to breathe.
Smoking contributes to osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), and women smokers have an increased risk for hip fracture.
Recent research has also found that women who are currently heavy smokers are at greater risk of having colds that last longer compared to non-smokers.
Women who smoke have more facial wrinkles than non-smokers.
Tips to Quit
> Within two hours there is no more nicotine in your blood.
> It is important that you want to quit and are confident you can succeed.
> Think about when and why you smoke, and plan ahead for difficult situations.
> Each craving only lasts a few minutes. Don’t let this be the day that you blow it.
> Put your cigarette money in a jar and save it for a reward.
> Your taste buds and sense of smell will return.
> If you’ve slipped up and had a cigarette – that’s okay. Most people take 3 to 4 attempts before quitting.
> Change your routine so you don’t automatically reach for a cigarette.
> Practice saying, ‘No thanks, I don’t smoke’.
> If you’re feeling tense take a walk, jog, visit the gym or listen to a relaxation tape. |
> Ask your family and friends to support you while you quit smoking.
> Avoid stressful occasions when there will be cigarettes available, particularly if there will also be alcohol around.
> If you’re beginning to think that ‘just one wouldn’t hurt’ try a diversion like a walk or call a friend.
> A slip up does not mean that you have failed. It is important to work out how you can prevent it next time.
> Don’t say, ‘this is my last cigarette’, say ‘I’m not going to smoke today’. Take one day at a time.
> Brush your teeth immediately after a meal rather than smoking.
> Most withdrawal symptoms only last two to three weeks, so hang in there.
> Quit with someone else and use each other for support when things get tough.
> A pack a day smoker can save around $3,000 after one year of quitting. |
Remember that if you can quit for a day, you can quit for good.
Source: Quit Victoria
Quitline 131 848 - Providing telephone advice and assistance to smokers who want to kick the habit.
Ask for a free copy of the Quit booklet (also available in Greek, Italian, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese).
The Quit book can also be viewed online at  www.quitnow.info.au
You can also visit The Quit Coach ( www.thequitcoach.org.au ), an interactive website brought to you by Quit Victoria, available nationally online, that can help you quit smoking and stay stopped.
It’s never too late to quit
About our Author
Dr Robin Bell is an Epidemiologist who advises on the design, analysis and translation of research studies at The Jean Hailes Foundation, as well as teaching biostatistics and research methods and co-supervising several PhD students. The following is an insight into what drives and challenges her.
My passions
Trying to stay fit and healthy myself – so practising what I preach in terms of public health!
What drives me
Trying to do whatever I am doing as well as I can.
Why women’s health
I find it intrinsically interesting and I think it is a field where I can make a difference.
What motivates me
Curiosity.
What do I find challenging
Keeping on top of new developments in the field – reading as much as possible. Balancing work and other commitments.
My hopes for Australian women regarding their health
That Australian women can lead long and healthy lives with maximal levels of wellbeing and minimal years of chronic disease or disability.
Not only would this be great for women themselves – but women have a profound effect on the health and wellbeing of their families – so what is good for Australian women is good for Australian families. |
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Rising Talent in Women's Medical Research
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Dr Sonia Davison is a 3rd year National Health and Medical Research Council PhD scholar whose research is addressing the issue of defining the role of androgens in women.
She also consults once a fortnight at The Jean Hailes Medical Centre for Women in the area of gynaecological endocrinology. |
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Dr Davison has been at The Jean Hailes Foundation almost four years and talks here about the challenges and joys of work, new parenthood and life in general.
My passions
Being enthusiastic, my family, the colour orange, making people smile, my disco ball, dancing, singing, walking, being happy, helping people, the sun, the garden, food of all sorts, creating fabulous celebrations and tributes.
What drives me
The desire to make a difference and to solve problems.
Why women’s health
The challenges, the rewards, the diversity of the problems encountered, the support, enthusiasm and amazing capabilities of my work colleagues, and the knowledge that my work may in some way provide for a healthier future for my granddaughters and great-granddaughters etc.
What motivates me
Wonderful family and inspiring work colleagues. Interesting and challenging problems. The desire to make things better somehow.
What do I find challenging
Ten month old babies who have learned to move in an obstacle and pet-filled world; trying to produce a PhD thesis whilst running after baby, obstacles and pets!
In a perfect world… Everyone would consider that there is another point of view; people would look after each other; we would all be united by a common goal of aiming to improve our collective future - health wise and planet wise.
My hopes for Australian women regarding their health I'd love for all women to take time out for themselves, put everything else on hold for a while, and take a good look at their health, hopefully with the assistance of a fabulous GP. Throw away the cigarettes, jump on the scales, book in for the mammogram or Pap test, organise to get cholesterol checked, get moving, and get planning for a healthy future. |
The Jean Hailes Foundation congratulates Endocrinologist Dr Sonia Davison, who has won three prestigious scientific awards in 2004.
Sonia received international recognition when she was awarded the highly prestigious Women in Endocrinology Abstract Awardat this year’s Annual Meeting of the US Endocrine Society in New Orleans.
She also won the Mayne Pharma Bryan Hudson Clinical Endocrinology Award at the Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting. Most recently, she was awarded The Jean Hailes Foundation Memorial Prize for best free communication by a young delegate (under the age of 35) at the Australasian Menopause Society Annual Meeting.
These awards are for her work on the Sue Ismiel International Study of Women’s Health and Hormones. |
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Sue Ismiel and daughters |
The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.
Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content created November 01, 2004
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