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Lifestyle advice

Smoking cessation

If you're thinking of quitting smoking, or if you've tried before, you probably know that it's not just about willpower. It's also about having a plan and getting support. That's where our nurses can help with one-to-one support and a free range of nicotine replacement treatments and non-nicotine medicines to help control your cravings. With support you're four times more likely to quit.
For support:

Book a standard appointment with one of our practice nurses.
NHS Smoking Helpline, 7.00am - 11.00pm every day, phone 0800 1690169, or text 0800 1690171 www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree
 
Alcohol guidance

Alcohol is something to be enjoyed and most of the time it doesn't cause any problems, but drinking too much, or at the wrong time can be harmful. If  you have concernns about your alcohol intake the doctors can offer advice and support in confidence.

For more information download "What is alcohol misuse?" on the right >

For further help:

  • Drinkline 0800 917 8282
  • Alcohol concern 24 hour helpline 020 7928 7377
  • Alcoholics anonymous 0845 7697 555
  • Al-anon - family support 020 7403 0888
  • ADSIS (services in Staffordshire) 01782 271096
  • Crewe Alcohol 01270 580243

Weight and diet

Maintaining a healthy weight is very important. Being overweight or underweight increases the risk of a range of diseases that have a significant impact on your health, such as heart disease, diabetes, back pain and arthritis.Those who are severely obese can expect decreased life expectancy, on average 11 years less. Currently one in four adults are overweight and a recent report predicts that by 2050 over 50% of adults and 25% of children will be obese.

Three major factors are responsible for the increase in obesity, diet, physical activity and family history. Over recent decades, encouraged by the food industry and marketing, consumption of energy dense nutritionally inadequate food and drinks, containing high levels of saturated and total fat, salt and sugar has increased, while relative consumption of fruit and vegetables has fallen. Less than one in three adults eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables daily.

Changing methods of travel and labour saving devices have reduced physical activity. Children spend more time watching television, playing computer games and using the internet and there is less sport at home and school. Weight is influenced by genetics (family history), for example the main indicator that a child will become obese is that both parents are overweight - four out of every five children will be overweight.

Five tips:
-1. Shop healthily
-2. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day
-3. Make physical activity a daily part of your life
-4. Periodically check your weight
-5. Balance calorie intake with energy expenditure

For one-to-one advice and support make an appointment with any doctor or nurse. For more information on weight reduction there are two downloads available on the right. For information on local food suppliers and local allotments download on the right >