Be smoke free 

On average, about one in five Australian women smoke. The habit is even more common in women aged 20-39 years. Stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease and it is never too late to benefit from giving up.


Your smoking can affect the health of others

Breathing other people's smoke (second-hand smoke) is harmful to both smokers and non-smokers. Exposure to second-hand smoke can worsen asthma symptoms and can increase the risk of:

  • heart disease and lung cancer
  • bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma in children
  • SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

Exposure to second-hand smoke is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The increase in risk is about 30% in non-smokers, and in one recent study, was as high as 60%.

Quitting smoking - remind yourself of the benefits


Within one day of quitting smoking:

  • your heart rate slows down and your blood pressure drops slightly
  • carbon monoxide is out of your blood
  • oxygen levels in the blood rise

Within two to three months:

  • your ability to smell and taste improves
  • your lungs regain the ability to clean themselves so you can cough up mucus
  • the blood flow to your hands and feet improves and they won't get so cold

Within one year:

  • your risk of heart attack has greatly reduced
  • if you smoked a packet of 25s a day, you would have saved over $3,500

Within two to six years:

  • your risk of developing coronary heart disease returns to similar levels as non-smokers

Tips for Quitting

For many smokers their addition to nicotine is similar to an addiction to heroin or cocaine. Quitting can be difficult at first but, like learning to ride a bike or drive a car, it takes planning, practice and help.


Planning

  1. Set a date for quitting.
  2. Begin to change habits.
  3. Learn how to handle stress and urges to smoke. Think about who and what can help you through these challenging times.

Don't Give Up!

Many people slip up after they have quit, and start smoking again. Don't see this as a failure. Think about what made you smoke again, and how you can deal better with resisting the temptation if this situation comes up again. Think about what worked and what didn't. Learn from this and try quitting again.

Help yourself to success

It's important to do whatever you can to help yourself to successfully quit smoking. Try some of these options listed below:

  • Call the national Quitline on 131 848 for information and advice about quitting.
  • Check out the internet for further information at www.quitnow.info.au or www.heartfoundation.org.au.
  • Use nicotine gums, patches or lozenges. These products can double your changes of quitting successfully. Bupropion tablets may also be helpful. Discuss quitting smoking with your doctor or pharmacist the next time you see them. They'll be able to explain about the various nicotine replacement products and Bupropion and help check your progress.
  • Talk to family members and friends and get their support and encouragement.
  • Read self-help materials and attend a quit smoking course.

Oral contraception

For healthy young women, oral contraceptives are usually safe. However, women who smoke while taking the contraceptive pill greatly increase their risk of heart, stroke and blood vessel disease.

For information on quitting smoking, call the Quitline 131 848.