SMOKING

SMOKING IN AUSTRALIA

• There about 40 people dying each day from smoking related diseases in Australia.
• Half of these are from cancer.
• Mostly it’s ove 65,s, but 1/5 are 35-65.
• 14% of people of age 18 smoke. In indigenous community, 42% over age 15 smoke.
• Smoking rates have reduced by 7% in last 15 years.

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WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SMOKING.

• Lung cancer
• All cancers
• Copd
• Vascular disease
• Risks to non smokers, unborn babies children and future generations.

WHAT CAN GP’S DO TO HELP SMOKERS.

• Raise the issue- link precontemplators problems to smoking.
• Advise to stop smoking.
• Offer medications and nicotine replacement, refer to I-quit.
• Follow up.
• Support non smoking.
• Give smokers hope- quitting smoking at any stage helps.

WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE STOP SMOKING?

• Quitline, I-quit
• Nicotine replacment
• Medication- zyban, champix.
• Psychology, hypnotherapy, counselling.
• Most successful is combination, often takes up to 7 attempts to quit.

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IS IT WORTH QUITTING?

• Quitting helps everyone- even terminal patients.
• Quitting smoking before age 30 reduces the lifetime risk of lung ca by 90%.
• After 15 years not smoking, risk of stroke is that of non smoker.
• In 2-5 years of quitting, your risk of heart attack and stroke drops significantly.
• Even 1 cigarette increases cancer risk.

SPELLING TEST

• Cigarette
• Emphysema
• Champix
• Nicotine
• Bronchitis