Medtick

Vaping can be addictive too as it contains nicotine!

Signs and symptoms, medical conditions are similar to smoking:

  • A strong, almost irresistible urge to vape.
  • Continuing to vape even if you think that it’s harmful to you.
  • Irritability when you can’t vape.
  • Intrusive thoughts about vaping.
  • Vaping behavior that causes problems with family, friends, school, or work.
  • The inability to stop vaping even when you try.

United Brain Association

E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a drug that’s highly addictive.

You don’t have to vape every day to get addicted. anxiety and depression: Nicotine makes anxiety and depression worse. It also affects memory, concentration, self-control, and attention, especially in developing brains.

KidsHealth

STOP SMOKING

Stop smoking is the single most important preventable illness and death

5 MILLION PEOPLE DEATHS worldwide From smoking and related causes

DO YOU WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM?

  1. Stopping smoking is not easy!
  2. Smoking treatments will not make customers stop smoking alone.
  3. WILLPOWER is needed and with behavioural support and treatment it is more likely you will quit four times more than doing it alone.

    One will have urges or cravings to smoke, but these last for a couple of minutes and they disappear and come back a little while later, the key is to resist the urges.The first few weeks are the toughest!!!

    YOU CAN DO IT!!!

    NOT A SINGLE PUFF!!!!!

    BECOME A NON-SMOKER !!!!!

  4. It’s also good to REMEMBER IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.

LOOK AT THE BENEFITS OF QUITTING

Time Beneficial health changes that take place
20 minutes Blood pressure and pulse rates return to normal
8 hours Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half. Oxygen levels will start to return to normal
24 hours (1 day) Carbon monoxide should be eliminated from the body.
Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris
48 hours (2 days) Should be no nicotine cigarettes left in the body.
Ability to taste and smell improves.
72 hours (3 days) Breathing becomes easier.
Airway tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase
2-12 weeks Circulation improves
3- 9 months Coughs and breathing problems improve as lung function is increased by 10%.
1 year Risk of heart attack falls to half that of a smoker
10 years Risk of lung cancer fall about half of that of a smoker
15 years Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked

Source: ASH fact sheet No.11 November 2005

The reasons that cigarette smoking is so highly addictive are thought to be:

  • Pleasure — nicotine affects the dopamine pathway in the brain, making smoking a pleasurable thing to do. For some people this turns into a dependence; their natural dopamine levels decrease and they need to keep smoking to maintain normal brain chemistry (1).
  • Behavioural aspects — smoking becomes a habit and an integral part of the daily ritual. This is particularly hard to break because the brain associates the chemical pleasure of dopamine release from smoking a cigarette with everyday actions (e.g. finishing a meal or work for the day). The enforced isolation of the smoker is often used as ‘my time’ or as a series of ‘mindful’ pauses throughout the day.
  • Environmental triggers — smokers’ brains know that smoking a cigarette will stimulate their pleasure pathways, and visual and other stimuli make them crave a cigarette. The simple act of seeing someone else smoking, or even just seeing a cigarette, can trigger this(2).

(1)Benowitz NL. Nicotine addiction. N Engl J Med 2010;362(24):2295–2303. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra0809890

(2) Mogg K, Bradley BP, Field M et al. Eye movements to smoking-related pictures in smokers: relationship between attentional biases and implicit and explicit measures of stimulus valence. Addiction 2003;98(6):825–836. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00392.x

The Pharmaceutical Journal, January 2018;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2018.20204033

Back To Body

Advanced medical services related to the ‘minor ailment’ condition

If you wish to go to the Infection Service or Aftercare Service please select one of the tabs below:

Infection Service

  • This section is regarding if one has an infection or not
  • Check an infection by answering ‘yes or no approach’ to identify infections
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medical conditions, symptoms and feelings
  • This tool has a ‘save’ function and can be retrieved at a later time
  • Presented as a report in a percentage format

What is an infection?

Aftercare Service

  • The Aftercare Service is an optional service where one can answer questions related to their symptoms, which could be a more serious underlying condition (not an infection or any physical injury).
    • For example if one had pain in their wrist, it may not be a simple sprain but a form of arthritis.
  • This site does not include body, skin or nail Infection conditions and/or diseases, please see ‘The Infection Service’ section for those conditions.
  • Check “Refer to Dr symptoms”  by answering ‘yes or no approach’ to identify diseases
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medical conditions, symptoms and feelings
  • This tool has a ‘save’ function and can be retrieved at a later time
  • Presented as a report in a percentage format

Rash Aftercare Service

  • The ‘Rash Aftercare Service’ is an optional service where we try to identify a non-infection rash if one believes it is not a minor ailment rash.
    • For example one may think they have eczema when it could be skin cancer.
  • This site does not include body, skin or nail Infection conditions and/or diseases, please see ‘The Infection Service’ section for those conditions.
  • Check a rash by answering ‘yes or no approach’ to identify rashes
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medical conditions, symptoms and feelings
  • This tool has a ‘save’ function and can be retrieved at a later time.
  • It is then presented as a report in a percentage format.

Nail Aftercare Service

  • The ‘Nail Aftercare Service’ is an optional service where we try to identify underlying nail conditions and how it may be related to other medical conditions.
    • For example one may think they have eczema when it is could be skin cancer.
  • This site does not include body, skin or nail Infection conditions and/or diseases, please see ‘The Infection Service’ section for those conditions.
  • Check one’s nail by answering ‘yes or no approach’ to identify conditions
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medical conditions, symptoms and feelings
  • This tool has a ‘save’ function and can be retrieved at a later time
  • It is then presented as a report

Infection Service

Infection Service
Aftercare Service
Rash Aftercare Service
Nail Aftercare Service

You currently have Aftercare Credits available.

Aftercare Services Report - 5 Credits Rash Aftercare Services Report - 3 Credits Nail Aftercare Services Report - 2 Credits

Diseases associated with smoking

Medication Taken

Medication Taken

  • This section is regarding whether a medication side effect can be causing the condition selected.
  • Check your medication (click on medication subject) and then by answering ‘yes or no approach’, if ‘ yes’ then please type medication in the panel for confirmation.
  • One can check list of medication (including vitamin and minerals) that can cause your condition/symptom
  • One can check or maybe identify if medication is causing your medical condition/symptom
  • Helps the healthcare professional to make a judgement if your medication is causing the symptom/condition
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medication, symptoms and feelings
  • Presented as a report

Herbal and Vitamins

     Although some people find them helpful, in many cases their use tends to be based on traditional use rather than scientific research.

N/A

Websites links where one can check Medication to Medication interactions and/or Side effects:

Refer to Medical Doctor

  • This section is about whether one needs to see a medical doctor
  • Check your symptoms/condition by answering ‘yes or no approach’
  • List of ‘refer to doctor symptoms/conditions’ that need to be referred to your medical doctor which need further investigation and diagnosis.
  • An additional information tool available to explain further medical conditions, symptoms and feelings
  • Presented as a report

Red Flag Symptoms

  • Red-flag symptoms can be general (e.g. weight loss or fatigue) or specific (e.g. coughing up blood) and act as an alert of potentially sinister pathology.
C. Ramanayake RPJ, K. Basnayake BMT. Evaluation of red flags minimizes missing serious diseases in primary care. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7:315. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_510_15
  • Red flags are not diagnostic tests; their main role is that they raise suspicions of a severe underlying cause.
C. Ramanayake RPJ, K. Basnayake BMT. Evaluation of red flags minimizes missing serious diseases in primary care. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7:315. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_510_15

Refer to Medical Doctor

Reset Your Answers

Please tick yes yes tick or no no tick, then the program will move to the next question.

Please add 'text' in underline parts where appropriate and press proceed to move to next question.

(Please be careful when answering questions as one cannot go back to change one's answer, you can start again by clicking 'Reset Your Answers').

Questions Answered: 0 of 0

You have answered all the Refer To Doctor Questions available.

N/A

Further Investigation

Further investigation – yellow box

Additional information:
If the following symptoms below occur one may have an infection and/or a underlying cause.

If the following symptoms below occur:

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache?
  • Swollen or sticky eye or sensitive to light?
  • Balance and dizziness problems?
  • Ear infection or a discharge?
  • Runny nose, congestion, cold not cleared by over the counter medication or greater?
  • Mouth infection?
  • Swollen lymph glands and/or recurring mouth ulcers?
  • Enlarged and/or red sore  tongue?
  • Sore throat longer than 7 days?
  • Dry cough or breathing difficulties?
  • Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Breast pain and discharge?
  • New rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worse?
  • Bleed and bruise easily (or appears like bruising and bleeding)?
  • Any unknown lumps or swellings on any part of body?
  • Skin infection (swollen skin with yellow discharge)?
  • Nail infection?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness/twitching with this chapter?
  • Joint stiffness and pain with this chapter?
  • Rectal bleeding and/or pain with this chapter?
  • Kidney condition/infection (When one has a moving pain, from abdomen to the side and back and burning urine)?
  • Vaginal discharge which is smelly and cloudy (female)?
  • Vaginal pain (female)?
  • Genital infection/lumps and swelling?
  • Prolonged and/or painful erection (male)?
  • Diarrhoea with this chapter?
    • If 60 years and older one should talk to a pharmacist/doctor to check if not dehydrated.
  • Please see your doctor if:
    • If premature and is less than 6 months old.
    • If less than three months old.
    • If 3-12 months old and diarrhoea longer than 24 hours.
    • If 1-7 years old and diarrhoea longer than 48 hours.
    • If 8-59 year sold and diarrhoea longer than 72 hours.

If the above does not apply see a pharmacist.

Please consider looking at our other Medtick services:

  • Advanced section: ‘Refer to Dr’  (You have already done this, if you have purchased the Advance section!)
  • Hospital section (Medical Emergency only)

If not a Medical Emergency (one can enter these services after clicking an initial subject (at the bottom of each introduction page)  and/or once completed the advance report).

If not resolved then please check

Thank you

Treatment

This section is about what over the counter treatments are available (not all treatments may be available in that country) and how they help.

 

  • Please check all ingredients and to make sure one is not sensitive or allergic to them
  • One should not smoke during such treatments and it is not a substitute to stop smoking.
  • It is a treatment to help one to stop smoking.

Aim:

  • The aim is to stop you smoking.
  • You will need behavioural support and medicinal treatment:

Behavioural support
This is where you will meet a Qualified Smoke Quitter professional (Pharmacist) who will:

  • Encourage you not to smoke
  • Motivate you not to smoke
  • Exercise you for self control
  • Make sure you take the right strength and amount of medication to help you to stop smoking.
    • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been scientifically proven to help one to stop smoking.
    • Treatments involved have just enough nicotine to reduce your withdrawal symptoms, e.g. craving and irritation and anxiety without all these other harsh chemicals found in cigarettes.
    • Don’t be afraid to use the highest strengths and don’t be afraid to use it for long periods (use at least for eight weeks) as the cravings become less and less your body will tell you when to reduce.

 

There are a wide range of products:

Patches

  • They are discreet and easy to apply and work by releasing nicotine through your skin into your blood stream.
  • They come in a variety of strengths depending on how many you smoke and are all types of smokers.
  • The patches release medicine in 16 hours or 24 hours
  • A 24 hour formulation is suitable for people who have craving first thing in the morning.
  • A 16 hour formulation is suitable for people who don’t have such cravings in the morning and who do have sleeping difficulties at night.
  • It helps in particularly with hunger cravings.
  • Normally one puts patch on at morning and it works very quickly and both are ideal if one has a regular pattern of smoking and strong cravings.

If one has used longer than 12 weeks of a particular strength, please see your pharmacist.

Cautions
X

Caution in:

Gums

  • They are suitable for people with an irregular pattern, or those who want to reduce the amount of cigarettes they smoke.
  • They come in two strengths, 2mg and 4mg depending on how many one smokes and come in a variety of flavours.
  • Please note they should be chewed a certain way to be effective. (It should be chewed then rested between cheek and gum to release nicotine).
    If one has a craving first thing in morning higher strengths should be used.
  • Side effects include: Upset stomach, hiccups burning mouth and jaw ache.
    If used longer than 9 months one should see your pharmacist.
  • Acidic drinks for example coffee and juices can affect absorption of oral treatments, one should avoid such drinks at least 15 minutes before using oral treatment.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

Spray

  • This is useful for people who do not wish to chew gum and be more discreet.
  • It can be used in irregular patterns of smoking. It delivers nicotine through the lining of the mouth.
  • Side effect include: Coughing and irritated throat, mouth irritation , headache , upset stomach, hiccups.
  • If used longer than 3 months one should see your pharmacist.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

Inhalator

  • This is useful for people who miss the hand action of a cigarette and it has the benefit of having a similar inhalation action to smoking. It can be used in irregular patterns of smoking.
  • It delivers nicotine through the lining of the mouth.
  • Side effect include: Coughing and irritated throat, headache , upset stomach, hiccups.
  • If used longer than 3 months one should see your pharmacist.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

Microtab

  • These work by dissolving under the tongue and are small and discreet. It can be used by people who have irregular patterns of smoking.
  • Side effect include: Stinging in the mouth, hiccups and upset stomach.
  • If used longer than 9 months one should see your pharmacist.
  • Acidic drinks for example coffee and juices can affect absorption of oral treatments, one should avoid such drinks at least 15 minutes before using oral treatment.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

Saline Sprays/Drops

  • These are nasal spray for persons where decongestant and corticosteroid products are not suitable or favourable.

Lozenges

  • These are ideal for people who have an irregular pattern of smoking and who are very discreet.
  • They are ideal if one finds chewing gums difficult. They work by releasing nicotine over 20-30 minutes by sucking (not to chew or swallow) the lozenge slowly and come in a variety of flavours.
  • Side effects include: Stinging in the mouth, hiccups and upset stomach.
  • If used longer than 6 months one should see your pharmacist.
  • Acidic drinks for example coffee and juices can affect absorption of oral treatments, one should avoid such drinks at least 15 minutes before using oral treatment.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

Nasal Spray

  • This is the quickest acting product and is ideal for those who have strong cravings or heavy smokers and is rapidly absorbed into the blood streams via one’s nose.
  • Side effect include: Stinging and runny nose, eyes watering , coughing.
    If used longer than 3 months one should see your pharmacist.
Cautions
X

Caution in:

 

One can Mix & Match the above however one will need to talk to:

Talk to your Smoke Quitter Professional

  • For example Patches can be used with gums or lozenges, inhalator and micro -tabs on a when- required basis when one has cravings.

 

Beware that side effect  of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) can occur when using them for a while which can be similar to withdrawal symptoms.

Potential withdrawal symptoms following smoking cessation, as well as the possible side effects of nicotine replacement therapy.

Listed side effect:

  • Sleep disturbance;
  • Nausea;
  • Headache;
  • Dizziness;
  • Sore throat;
  • Cough;
  • Skin reactions;
  • Mouth ulcers;
  • Heartburn.


Known nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

  • Sleep disturbance;
  • Nausea;
  • Headache;
  • Dizziness;
  • Cough;
  • Mouth ulcers.

Cautions for NRT use

  • All NRT should be used with caution in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disease, renal or hepatic impairment, and uncontrolled hyperthyroidism.
  • In almost all instances, however, the risk associated with NRT will be outweighed by the benefit of stopping smoking.
  • In pregnant patients, an intermittent form of NRT would be preferable.
  • Unfortunately, sometimes the nausea associated with early pregnancy makes patches the most realistic option.
  • In this instance, patches should be removed before going to bed.
  • In any event, the expectant mother stopping smoking will be the most beneficial to the unborn child.
Table 1: Variety of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products available
NRT product Indication Instructions for use Side effects Additional cautions Approximate cost per week (£)
Patches Background craving 16- or 24-hour patches available. Apply in the morning and either remove 1 hour before bed or leave on 24 hours. Rotate site of application Skin reaction, sleep disturbance (especially vivid dreams) and see Box 2 Pregnancy, dermatological conditions 10
Inhalator Episodic craving, especially useful for when something tactile is required and continued hand-to-mouth action is beneficial For best effect, absorb through buccal mucosa, not drawn down to lungs, each cartridge lasts for about 40 minutes of use. Use up to 6 cartridges in 24 hours See Box 2 N/A 25
Oral spray Episodic craving, a degree more clinical than the inhalator. Moves away from hand to mouth Spray into side of mouth, do not swallow. For monotherapy use up to 4 sprays an hour, 64 sprays in 24 hours; less if used with patch See Box 2 Gastrointestinal (GI) disease 12
Lozenge/microtab Episodic craving, discrete, slow release of nicotine Absorbed through buccal mucosa. Allow to dissolve in mouth, do not swallow. Max 15 lozenges in 24 hours Hiccups if used incorrectly and see Box 2 GI disease 8
Gum Episodic craving, tricky to use correctly but still requested Chew slowly until taste becomes strong then stop chewing and place (park) the gum between the cheek and the gum; chew again when taste has gone. Max 15 gums in 24 hours Hiccups, nausea, sore mouth GI disease 10
Nasal spray Episodic craving, works very quickly but side effects have limited its appeal Spray into nose, correct technique is very important Side effects are particularly prevalent during the first two days of use and include sneezing, runny nose, watering eyes and cough GI disease 15

NHS Choices. Stop smoking in pregnancy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/smoking-pregnant.aspx (accessed January 2018)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Public health guideline [PH10] Stop smoking services. Available at:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance
/ph10/chapter/4-Recommendations
(accessed January 2018)

The Pharmaceutical Journal, January 2018;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2018.20204033

Withdrawal Symptoms

These symptoms below are at most 24 hours after last cigarette and will gradually decrease between 2-4 weeks.

(They occur because when one smoked, one trigger’s of smoking receptors which accept the nicotine from one’s cigarette and then allow the nicotine to take effect in their body, as you stop the smoking the receptor‘s decrease slowly their affect and hence the ‘craving ‘will wear off slowly)

   Withdrawal symptoms                Percentage of people affected (%)                Duration of withdrawal symptoms (weeks)
Restlessness 70 4
Irritability 50 4
Urge to smoke 70 4
Light headedness n/a less than two days
Inability to concentrate 60 2
Sleep disturbances 25 1
Increase appetite causing weight gain 70 10
Constipation n/a 4
Mouth Ulcers n/a 4

Source: HACKNEY QUIT SMOKING MEETING 2016

One will have urges or cravings to smoke, but these last for a couple of minutes and they disappear and come back a little while later, the key is to resist the urges.The first few weeks are the toughest!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

NOT A SINGLE PUFF!!!!!

BECOME A NON-SMOKER ?

General tips

  • Talk to your Qualified Smoke Quitter professional (Pharmacist) each week.
  • Trying to stop smoking with others in the same position or being able to talk to a health professional is said to be more successful than simply doing it on your own.
  • You are twice likely to quit with support!
  • You are four times likely to quit with support and treatment!!!
  • Set a quit day and stop (Start today or tomorrow do not put off until a later date)
  • Don’t be discouraged if you don’t quit first time. Some people can have up to four attempts to quit.
  • Save money from the cigarettes you would have bought and reward yourself!!!!
  • Quit together with a friend/relative and support each other.
  • Try not to think about smoking or even attempt to have ‘just one cigarette’ this can lead one to smoke regularly.
  • Urges will occur, but craving lasts for one minute. First few weeks are always the toughest. Resist.
  • Be ready to deal with urges, distract yourself i.e. read a book, listen to music or play a game or get some fresh air or do something other than smoke!
  • Remember why you have quit.
  • Never buy, carry or light cigarettes!!
  • Exercise and relax otherwise people tend to eat and increase weight.
  • Try not to stress, do something one enjoys as a hobby.
  • Consider:
    • Aromatherapy
    • Pilates,
    • Tai-Chi,
    • Yoga
    • Acupuncture therapy
  • Breathing exercises to help one relax are available
  • Remove all triggers to smoke, e.g. stress, ashtrays, clothing, wash all furniture so smoke free, socialise in a non-smoky environment
  • If hand action is difficult to overcome have a pencil, elastic band and dummy cigarette at hand.
  • Eat more strong flavoured food to help to satisfy your taste buds and forget the taste of smoking.
  • Eat regular healthy meals (Avoid fatty food. Do not skip meals or diet- first stop smoking then concentrate to loose weight otherwise it simply becomes too much and one may end up back to smoking).
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Drink plenty of water at least 2 litres a day.
  • Do not consider e-cigarettes before trying Nicotine replacement therapy, if Nicotine replacement therapy is unsuccessful after several attempts then one may consider e-cigarettes. The main reason being is the  safety of e-cigarettes has not been established yet and will one get addicted to the e-cigarette?- latest research shows there is an addiction to e-cigarettes and vaping!

One will have urges or cravings to smoke, but these last for a couple of minutes and they disappear and come back a little while later, the key is to resist the urges.

The first few weeks are the toughest!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!

NOT A SINGLE PUFF!

BECOME A NON-SMOKER .

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