Kicking habit is most important thing to do for people with chronic condition
Giving up smoking is widely acknowledged as a big step in the right direction to improving overall health and wellbeing.
But for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it is one of the most important things they can do to help improve their health.
During November, COPD Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the services, self-management guidance and support available to Swansea Bay patients.
COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
It includes emphysema (damage to the air sacs in the lungs) and chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the airways) and is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke.
Pictured: Joanne Williams and Lowri Ridings, smoking cessation practitioners, and Susan O’Rourke, service development manager for smoking cessation.
The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is permanent, but treatment can help slow down the progression of the condition, with quitting smoking regarded as the most important thing to do.
Susan O’Rourke, Swansea Bay’s service development manager for smoking cessation, said: “Smoking cessation is one of the most effective ways to prevent respiratory diseases, and one of the most effective treatments for people who have been diagnosed.
“There’s currently no cure for COPD, but treatment can help slow the progression of the condition and control the symptoms.
“For people with COPD who still smoke, stopping smoking is the most important thing to do.
“Although any damage done to your lungs and airways cannot be reversed, giving up smoking can help prevent further damage.
“This may be all the treatment that's needed in the early stages of COPD, but it's never too late to stop. Even people with more advanced COPD will benefit from quitting.”
The Help Me Quit service offers 12 weeks of free behavioural and emotional support through individual or group meetings.
Staff provide support through weekly sessions, either over the phone, face-to-face or virtually, where discussions involve why participants smoke, behavioural changes and stresses.
The service also provides 12 weeks’ worth of stop smoking medication, such as nicotine patches, to help lessen withdrawal symptoms.
“By not smoking or reducing smoking, it helps to clear the lungs and make breathing easier for people with COPD,” Susan added.
“It helps to improve the quality of life for people living with this chronic condition.
“We’re not going to be able to get rid of the COPD but we are able to help with their quality of life as quitting helps to improve their breathing, the way they are feeling and the activities they can do.
“We have had some patients who were on home oxygen services who were able to reduce or even completely stop needing it after they stopped smoking.
“Wherever a patient is in their journey with COPD, giving up smoking is the main health benefit for their condition and quality of life.
“Stopping smoking at any stage of COPD helps you to live longer.”
To access the Help Me Quit service, you can contact 0800 085 2219 or text ‘HMQ’ to 80818.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.