Did you know? : Smokers who use Stop Smoking Wales are four times more likely to quit
Case Study - Clare Thomas
For 38-year-old district nurse Clare Thomas, the health risks of smoking were seen in her everyday working life, but this didn’t stop the 24-year habit of this young health professional.
Understanding more than most people the detrimental effects smoking was having on her health, Clare, knew that she needed to quit the cigarettes but doing it was another matter.
But following a period of ill health in which Clare developed pneumonia, she decided “enough was enough” and her habit had to be broken. She phoned the Stop Smoking Wales helpline who put her in touch with a trained specialist.
Before giving up the cigarettes, Clare discussed with her dedicated specialist the reasons why she smoked and when and also planned and prepared for her quit date. Her stop-smoking aid options were also discussed and Clare decided to use the nicotine patches, gum and inhalator to help her quit.
Clare said: “I knew full well what smoking was doing to my health but giving up something you enjoyed was difficult. I needed the support of others who didn’t know me to help me through it.
“Relying on family and friends for support is great, but to talk openly and honestly to someone you don’t know and who puts you in touch with others who are going through the same experience is invaluable.
“I have met people through the Stop Smoking Wales service who don’t even tell their family and friends that they are giving up as this puts added pressure on them as they don’t want to disappoint those they love.”
Now more than two months later, Clare is enjoying a smoke-free lifestyle and can’t believe the amount of extra time in the day she now has to do other things.
Smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day not only made a huge dent in her monthly outgoings but also wasted more than three hours of her day endlessly puffing on a cigarette.
Clare added: “No wonder I was stressed at work always complaining I never had enough time to do everything, when I was spending more than three hours of the day taking time out to have a cigarette!”
Enjoying her smoke-free life, Clare has taken up aerobics and has vowed to start running. She also enjoys eating out now that she can actually taste what she is eating!
Understanding more than most people the detrimental effects smoking was having on her health, Clare, knew that she needed to quit the cigarettes but doing it was another matter.
But following a period of ill health in which Clare developed pneumonia, she decided “enough was enough” and her habit had to be broken. She phoned the Stop Smoking Wales helpline who put her in touch with a trained specialist.
Before giving up the cigarettes, Clare discussed with her dedicated specialist the reasons why she smoked and when and also planned and prepared for her quit date. Her stop-smoking aid options were also discussed and Clare decided to use the nicotine patches, gum and inhalator to help her quit.
Clare said: “I knew full well what smoking was doing to my health but giving up something you enjoyed was difficult. I needed the support of others who didn’t know me to help me through it.
“Relying on family and friends for support is great, but to talk openly and honestly to someone you don’t know and who puts you in touch with others who are going through the same experience is invaluable.
“I have met people through the Stop Smoking Wales service who don’t even tell their family and friends that they are giving up as this puts added pressure on them as they don’t want to disappoint those they love.”
Now more than two months later, Clare is enjoying a smoke-free lifestyle and can’t believe the amount of extra time in the day she now has to do other things.
Smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day not only made a huge dent in her monthly outgoings but also wasted more than three hours of her day endlessly puffing on a cigarette.
Clare added: “No wonder I was stressed at work always complaining I never had enough time to do everything, when I was spending more than three hours of the day taking time out to have a cigarette!”
Enjoying her smoke-free life, Clare has taken up aerobics and has vowed to start running. She also enjoys eating out now that she can actually taste what she is eating!