Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking can also lead to improved mental health, an improved sense of smell and taste, and financial savings.

Why quit?

Quitting smoking can have immediate positive effects on the body. Within the first 24 hours of quitting, the levels of carbon monoxide in the blood start to decrease, which can lead to improved oxygen levels. In the following days and weeks, the body starts to repair itself, and various systems — such as the respiratory and circulatory systems — begin to function better. After a year of being smoke-free, heart disease and stroke risks are reduced significantly.

Health benefits of quitting

You will start seeing health benefits soon after you smoke your last cigarette. After quitting, within:

• 20 minutes — your blood pressure drops to a level similar to what it was before your last cigarette.
• 8 hours — the level of carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) in your blood drops to normal.
• 24 hours — your risk of having a heart attack starts to drop.
• 2 weeks to 3 months — the airways in your lungs relax and you can get more air into your lungs and breathe easier.
• 1 to 9 months — you cough less and your lungs work even better.
• 1 year — your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
• 5 years — you have the same chance of having a stroke as a non-smoker.
• 10 years — your chance of dying from lung cancer is much lower, as is your chance of getting cancer in your mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and/or pancreas.
• 15 years — your risk of coronary heart disease is similar to that of a non-smoker.

Quitting also has benefits beyond just improved health, including financial savings, an improved sense of smell and taste, better oral health, increased energy, better appearance, a better overall quality of life, and improved indoor air quality for those around you.

Ontario Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program

The Ontario Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program is a program in Ontario aimed at helping people quit smoking. It provides support and resources to help smokers quit, including access to nicotine replacement therapies (such as nicotine gum or patches) and counselling. The program is provided through participating pharmacies and is available to all Ontario residents who are 18 years of age or older and who smoke or use tobacco products. The program is free, and the goal is to help people quit smoking and improve their overall health and well-being.

Pharmacists play an important role in the program. They can help in several ways, including:

1. Providing information and support: on the benefits of quitting, how to quit, and the various treatments and therapies available, plus referrals to other support services.
2. Assessing readiness to quit: helping individuals assess their readiness and make a plan to quit.
3. Offering nicotine replacement therapies: such as nicotine gum or patches, with advice on how to use them effectively.
4. Monitoring progress: of individuals using nicotine replacement therapies, with support and advice as needed.
5. Encouraging adherence: helping individuals stick to their quit plan with encouragement and support along the way.

Who is eligible?

Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients and anyone interested in quitting are eligible, regardless of current smoking status. Some programs may have specific eligibility criteria, such as being a resident of a certain area or meeting certain income requirements — check with a participating pharmacy to confirm eligibility.

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At Optimum Pharmacy, our mission is to provide safe, high quality and efficient patient care. We collaborate with your doctors to achieve the best medication therapy outcomes for you and your family, and help you maximize your treatment's benefits while managing possible side effects.

At Optimum Pharmacy, we are dedicated to providing the most satisfactory service in the Greater Toronto Area.