Author: Dr. David Busby

Cigarette smoking rates have continued to steadily decline in Australia for two decades.Improved public health messaging, government tobacco control strategies, improved smoking cessation tools, and the implementation of smoke-free environments have all contributed to a decrease in smoking among the Australian population.Though smoking was once prevalent among young adults and teenagers, smoking rates among today’s youth continue to fall rapidly. So, what does smoking look like among teenagers in Australia today? We take a look at the statistics.The Effects Of Smoking In Australia | The StatisticsSmoking costs the Australian community approximately $137 billion per year, however, the costs extend far…

There are a number of treatment options you can consider on your road to quitting smoking.  It’s important to discuss these options with a trained GP who can work with you on a treatment plan and support you along the way. Therapies include Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), counselling and behavioural therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Bupropion is one of the first-line pharmacotherapies used to aid smoking cessation. Here, we explain how you can use Bupropion to stop smoking.What Is Bupropion?Bupropion, also known as Bupropion Sustained Release, is a prescription medication that decreases tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It works differently to NRTs…

Quitting smoking can be challenging, particularly if you’ve attempted to quit cold turkey without success. Try not to be discouraged by this — there are a number of safe and effective tools you can use to make the process more manageable. Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products are the most well-researched front-line treatments used to help with smoking cessation. Here, we take a closer look at the effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. What Is Nicotine? Nicotine is the main addictive substance in tobacco products. It stimulates the adrenal glands which can cause an increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and limited blood…

When it comes to quitting smoking, we know that the benefits outweigh the cons. However, if you’ve attempted to quit in the past, you’ll know that withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming enough to lead to a relapse. While they’re uncomfortable and unpleasant, these symptoms cannot hurt you. You can get through to the other side with the right treatment plan, a strong support network, and persistence. Below, we explain why you might feel worse after quitting smoking, as well as what you can do to alleviate some of these side effects.Why Do I Feel Sick After Quitting Smoking?When you quit…

Vaping and Blood PressureWe have known for a very long time that smoking cigarettes increases the chances of developing heart disease and cancer. Similarly, we know that along with high cholesterol and high salt intake, smoking is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure (also known as; hypertension). This article will explore whether vaping can raise or even cause high blood pressure.How does smoking cigarettes cause high blood pressure?Before discussing whether vaping can affect your blood pressure, let’s explore how tobacco smoking can lead to higher blood pressure. Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes per day…

It’s no surprise that quitting smoking is a challenge – cigarettes are designed to make it that very way. Nicotine is the primary chemical responsible for the addictiveness of cigarettes, and when you’ve gone a while without smoking, your body experiences withdrawal from nicotine. The symptoms that follow can be uncomfortable, and these symptoms are almost always the cause of relapses. The good news? These symptoms are temporary. So, how long does nicotine withdrawal last? What’s In A Cigarette? First of all, the main problem with a cigarette is that it delivers nicotine by burning tobacco and it is the…

The serious and damaging health implications of smoking are well-proven and understood. Despite this, a survey conducted in 2019 reported over 2.8 million Australians continued to smoke. While the number of smokers has continued to fall gradually over recent years, the challenges that come with quitting continue to keep cigarettes in mouths. Quitting smoking is difficult, but with the right support and cessation program, it is absolutely possible. Why Quit Smoking? The benefits of quitting smoking are wide-reaching when it comes to your health. Smoking is linked to 19 types of cancer, 7 forms of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary…

Struggling to quit smoking while pregnant?Over 50% of women who smoked before pregnancy decide to quit before their first antenatal visit. Giving up cigarettes is extremely difficult, but we want you to know that it’s also very possible.With the correct tools, techniques, and guidance, you can achieve total cessation that could even result in a permanent solution.The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) advises that quitting before conception is best thing to do. If that is not possible, then quitting as soon as possible during the pregnancy is recommended.Smokers who quit during early pregnancy (e.g. within the first trimester) have…

Vaping is possible because you can use nicotine vape juice, also known as ejuice, to soak the wick that the heating element uses to vaporise the contents. With new legal updates in importing and selling single-use, disposable vapes and other unregulated vaping products are now impossible to purchase legally. However, there are legal ways to get nicotine vape juice and to get vaping products as a whole — we’ll be discussing that in this post. Understanding nicotine vaping products First, let’s learn more about nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and the role of nicotine vape juice on this device. Vape devices are more…

If you’re looking for where to buy e-cigarettes in Australia, you’ve come to the right place. There are a few different ways to buy e-cigarettes in Australia and this helpful guide will run you through each of those, as well as their unique considerations. Firstly, what e-cigarette are you looking to buy? It’s important to understand what type of e-cigarette product you’re looking to buy, and whether or not you’re looking to buy e-cigarettes containing nicotine for smoking cessation. Currently the three options for where to buy e-cigarettes in Australia are via your local pharmacy, at a local vape store,…