Smoking

In addition, smoking affects your blood pressure, fertility, your skin and lungs, and increases your risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

If you smoke cannabis with tobacco, you will still be taking in the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes.

According to recent studies, people living with HIV are 50 per cent more likely to smoke than people who are HIV negative.

Smoking does not directly impact upon your HIV but, because HIV damages your immune system, smoking can lead to increased health problems. Smokers living with HIV have an increased risk of chest infections, oral thrush, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than smokers who do not have HIV.

Smokers become addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes, which is why you often experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking.

Some people use nicotine replacement products to help them to stop. These can come in the form of patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers and inhalators and you can gradually reduce the amount you take until the cravings pass. Your doctor can prescribe you nicotine replacement therapy. There are also medicines you can take to help with your cravings.

Every area has a local NHS service to help you stop smoking. As well as nicotine replacement therapy, they also provide group or one-to-one support and there is also a national helpline. You can find out more at Smoke Free and you could also come to talk to a Health Trainer.