Ways to quit smoking

Says that oral and nasal snuff as well as chewing tobacco are harmful as they increase the risk of certain cancers, but on the reverse side these habits are considered safer thank smoking.

The risk of throat and pancreatic cancer is roughly 60 percent higher among users of chewing tobacco products compared with non-users, it found. Investigators in the United States and Asia also found a 260 percent increase in the risk of mouth cancer among chewing tobacco users, compared with non-users, but a similar European investigation found no added risk, it said.

More than 30 carcinogens, or cancer-causing ingredients, can be found in chewing tobacco, a category that comprises oral products that are sucked or chewed. You won’t always be able to spot the earliest warning signs of oral cancer, which is why regular check-ups with both your dentist and physician are so important. Your dentist is trained to detect early warning signs of oral cancer. However, in addition to check-ups, you should see your dentist if you do notice any of the following:

* A sore on the lips, gums, or inside of your mouth that bleeds easily and doesn’t heal

* A lump or thickening in the cheek that you can feel with your tongue

* Loss of feeling or numbness in any part of your mouth

* White or red patches on the gums, tongue or inside of mouth

* Difficulty chewing or swallowing food

* Soreness or unexplained pain in your mouth, or feeling that something is caught in your throat with no known cause * Swelling of the jaw causing dentures to fit poorly

* Change in voice Chewing ttobacco use accounts for 80 to 90 percent of oral cancers.

Quit chewing tobacco NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY may work for individuals who are addicted to smokeless tobacco. Some patients may improve with bupropion (ZYBAN). Studies are mixed on the success rates of smoking cessation therapies for chewing tobacco, and further research is needed.

(original on MedicalNewsToday)

Somerset NHS Stop Smoking Service is preparing to help smokers in Somerset as they join millions of UK smokers to stop on No Smoking Day. This year’s theme, ‘take the first step’, acknowledges that No Smoking Day is the first step of a quitting journey and individuals will not be alone in their quit attempt. The theme lends itself to the message that smoking is an expensive habit and you can save a packet if you give up!

So why not take the first step this No Smoking Day? You can take the first step with the help and support that is available from Somerset NHS Stop Smoking Service. Those who do stop smoking on March 11 will gain health and financial benefits in next to no time, including:

Feeling fitter and having loads of energy to start that healthy lifestyle - not feeling out of breath when the dog takes you for a brisk walk!

Saving loads of money - giving up a 20-a-day will is like a £40 a week pay rise! Stop on No Smoking Day and by June you can save almost £500

Having a better sex life - smoking can create hormonal imbalances which decrease libido

Jonathan Chetland, Somerset Stop Smoking Specialist, said, "Around 22% of adults in Somerset smoke and research has shown that over two thirds of them would like to stop. No Smoking Day provides an excellent opportunity for them to do that. By using the support available on No Smoking Day and throughout the year you can significantly increase your chance of success."

Here’s some top tips to help you:

Call your local free stop smoking service on 0844 568 9840 or visit http://www.somersetstopsmoking.nhs.uk and check out what it offers - you are 4 times more likely to stop smoking

Get some Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as patches or gum. It can double your chance of stopping - talk to your GP or pharmacist

Write down all the reasons you want to stop and stick it on the fridge to help you stay motivated

Talk to your friends, family and workmates - support from them is essential - why not quit together and keep each other motivated?

No Smoking Day is in its 26th year and is a registered charity supported by an alliance of the UK’s health promotion agencies and major health charities