Quit smoking

Using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can double the chance of staying smoke-free in the long-term. Your pharmacist can help with advice and therapies to help you quit smoking including subsidised nicotine patches, gum and lozenges.

Tell your pharmacist if you are pregnant, breast feeding or have a medical condition. Nicotine replacement products can still be used in most cases, but which type may depend on your situation.

Benefits of quitting

In the longer term, quitting smoking may reduce your risk of developing cancer and heart disease. However, there are other benefits of quitting that may include:

Within 20 minutes:
Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.

Within 24 hours:
Nicotine from tobacco is out of your system.

Within 2 days:
Your taste buds come alive and your sense of smell returns.

Within three months:
The blood flow improves to your hands and feet. Your lungs work better. Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve.

After 12 months:
Your risk of sudden death from heart attack is almost half that of smokers. If you used to be a 20 cigarettes-per-day smoker, you will have saved yourself over $4,500.

After 10 years:
Your risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker, and after 15 years your heart attack risk is the same as someone who has never smoked.