Kicking the habit on National Youth Tobacco Free Day

Young people all around Australia are being asked to quit smoking today, on National Youth Tobacco Free Day. Smoking habits can start in the early teens, so refusing to take up the habit before it develops is the key.

"Tobacco smoking is responsible for the premature death of about 19,000 Australians each year. Today is your chance to decide you don't want to become a statistic," said Dr Kelly Seach, RACGP Registrar Representative.

"Much better than quitting smoking, is to stay away from it all together. Lung cancer is not the only risk associated with cigarettes - smoking can literally steal your youth. It can have an impact on your eyesight, your small intestine, cause premature facial wrinkling and even impotence.

"For young people who smoke, today is all about giving you the support you need to quit. It is not easy but there are many support resources that can help you to breathe easier. One of the best supports is your local GP.

"In the battle to beat cigarettes, GPs and members of our practice teams, provide much more than simple advice. Research shows that advising smokers to quit is not enough to get them over the finish line.

"GPs can support patients to move to alternate sources of nicotine, such as patches or gum, to help to manage cravings. Evidence shows all forms of nicotine replacement therapy, including patches, nasal sprays, inhalers, lozenges, sublingual tablets and gum are effective in helping smokers to quit. We know these therapies nearly double the rate of quitting after 12 months compared with placebos.

"Quitting can deliver real health benefits very quickly. Within 12 hours, all the nicotine will metabolise, and after 24 hours blood carbon monoxide levels will drop significantly. After five days, your sense of smell and taste will improve, and after six weeks, the risk of wound infection after surgery is reduced.

"The benefits continue after one year when the risk of coronary heart disease is halved compared with continuing smokers, and after 10 years the risk of lung cancer is also half that of continuing smokers. After 10 to 15 years, the all-cause mortality in former smokers is at the same level as people who have never smoked. There is also an immediate benefit for people with respiratory disease in the rate of loss of functioning lung tissue.

"Kicking the habit today is the best way to ensure that you stay healthy - not only on youth, but for the rest of your life."

For more information on National Youth Tobacco Free Day visit www.oxygen.org.au

FACT SHEET KICKING THE HABIT

Tobacco smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.

Cigarette smoking can do terrible damage to your health:
· There are at least 25 diseases for which tobacco is a known or probable cause.
· Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, and a range of cancers and other diseases and conditions.
· Smoking is also associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic respiratory diseases, as well as higher rates of wound infection following surgery.

Smoking causes:
· more than 19,000 deaths each year
· 80 percent of all drug-related deaths
· around 11 times the number of road crash fatalities.
· one in eight new cancers, and one in five cancer deaths.

For more information visit The National Tobacco Campaign www.quitnow.info.au

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia, with the majority of Australia's general practitioners belonging to their professional college. Over 23,000 general practitioners participate in the RACGP Continuing Professional Development Program. The RACGP National Rural Faculty, representing more than 5,000 members, has the largest rural general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia. Visit www.racgp.org.au