Pharmacy

SmokingCessation Clinic

The Pharmacy department runs Smoking Cessation Clinics to help smokers quit smoking and lead healthier lives. Run by experienced pharmacists who are certified Quit Smoking Consultants, we offer this service to patients as well as the general public. Our Smoking Cessation team is here to help you quit the cigarette for good.

Smoking and your healthThe tobacco smoke found in a cigarette contains more than 4,000 chemicals, of which at least 400 are poisonous and more than 50 are cancer-causing.

Smoking is estimated to increase the risk of:

• Coronary heart disease by two to four times

• Stroke by two to four times

• Lung cancer by up to 23 times (men)

• Lung cancer by up to 13 times (women)

• Death by chronic obstructive lung diseases by 12 to 13 times

Smoking can cause health-related problems such as heart diseases, stroke, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bone loss, osteoporosis and infertility. Second-hand smoke is also hazardous to the people around you.

Why is it so hard to quit?Smoking is more than a habit. It is an addiction to nicotine. Nicotine binds to receptors in the brain and releases chemicals that give the smoker a temporary, addictive ‘high’. It is possible to become physically dependent on nicotine after just a few weeks of regular smoking.

When you try to quit smoking, your body experiences nicotine withdrawal. These symptoms include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Increase in appetite

• Sleep disturbances

According to the Smoking Cessation Guidelines: An Update (Robert West, Ann McNeill & Martin Raw, 2000), about 3% of smokers manage to quit smoking without the help of healthcare professionals.

Our Quit Smoking Consultants can help you kick the habit for good by addressing both the habit and the addiction. They can also advise you on methods to cope with withdrawal symptoms.

Help at your door During a smoking cessation session, our Quit Smoking Consultant will address your smoking habits and advise you on the use of pharmacotherapy according to your needs and suitability. A personalised quit smoking plan will be tailored for you. In addition, the option of a breath test with smokerlyzer is available. It is an excellent motivational tool that alerts you of the physical damage caused by cigarette smoke.

What happens at consultation:

• Your smoking history, habits and nicotine addiction are assessed.

• Your breath is monitored for carbon monoxide with a smokerlyzer.

• A personal plan is drawn up to help you quit smoking.

• Tips to help you quit and cope with nicotine withdrawal are given.

• Medications are recommended.

• Your Quit Smoking Consultant monitors your progress.

• You receive motivation and encouragement.

PharmacotherapyThere are various pharmacological options that can help you quit smoking and cope with withdrawal symptoms. Studies show that up to 25% of smokers give up smoking, almost doubling the usual quit rate, when an intensive course of smoking cessation counselling is combined with appropriate use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (Raw et al., 1998).

Whether you are a young smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be tough. But with the right plan tailored to your needs, you can replace your smoking habits, manage your cravings, and join the millions of people who have kicked the habit for good.

Notes:

For more information

Ng Teng Fong General Hospital andJurong Community Hospital

1 Jurong East St 21,Singapore 609606General enquiries: 6716 2000 Fax: 6716 5500www.juronghealth.com.sg

Clinical and appointment line hours (closed on Sundays and public holidays)

For appointments, please call 6716 2222 Monday - Friday 8.00am - 5.30pm,Saturday 8.00am - 12.30pm

For dental appointments, please call 6716 2233Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 5.30pm,Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm

Getting there

By train

Jurong East MRT Station

By bus

From Jurong East Bus InterchangeSBS 51, 52, 66, 78, 79, 97, 97e, 98,98M, 105, 143, 143M, 160, 183, 197, 333, 334, 335, 506

Along Boon Lay WaySBS 99, Private bus service 625

Jurong Medical Centre60 Jurong West Central 3,Singapore 648346General enquiries: 6716 2000 Fax: 6551 7999www.jmc.com.sg

Clinical and appointment line hours (closed on Sundays and public holidays)

For appointments, please call 6716 2222 Monday - Friday 8.00am - 5.30pm,Saturday 8.00am - 12.30pm

For dental appointments, please call 6716 2233Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 5.30pm,Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm

Getting there

By train

Boon Lay MRT Station

By bus

SBS 30, 79, 154, 157, 174, 179, 181,182, 192, 193, 194, 198, 199, 240, 241, 242, 243 W/G, 246, 249, 251, 252, 254,255, 257, 405SMRT 172, 178, 180, 187

Disclaimer:The information in this brochure is meant for educational purposes and should not be used as substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please seek your doctor’s advice before starting any treatment or if you have any questions related to your health, physical fitness or medical condition.

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