As the New Year is now here, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is encouraging smokers to make a resolution worth keeping – quit smoking.
There are around 5.4 million adults in England who still smoke, and it remains the leading preventable cause of premature death.
Stopping smoking is one of the best things smokers can do for their health, and it's never too late to quit.
There are financial benefits to quitting smoking too. On average a smoker can save around £38 a week by quitting smoking - that’s around £2,000 a year.
Liz McDonald, a stop smoking advisor at NCIC, said: “New Year is a time when many people decide to quit smoking. Quitting smoking will not only improve your health but also help with money in your pocket. Planning ahead and making use of the free support services that are available can help you quit smoking for good.
“There’s a range of support available including stop smoking aids, digital tools and expert help from local stop smoking services to help your quit-smoking journey. There are also several ways that you can get ready to quit such as being prepared for triggers, making changes to your routine to resist cravings and getting support from your friends and family to keep going. These tools and support can help boost your chances of quitting for good.”
John Atkinson, a respiratory consultant at NCIC, said: “Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of premature death. Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs and airways, making it harder to breathe. I urge every smoker to make a New Year’s resolution to quit this January. It’s never too late to quit – stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including for people with an existing smoking-related disease. If you want to quit smoking this January, there are lots of free resources and support from the NHS which can help you quit for good - you won’t be alone in your New Year’s resolution.”
Stop smoking experts recommend these ten top tips for those who plan to quit this January:
- Pick a quit date and add it to your calendar
- List your reasons to quit
- Use stop smoking aids to help manage cravings
- Change your routine if you smoke at certain times of day
- Tell people you are quitting
- If you’ve tried to quit before, remember what worked
- Have a plan if you are tempted to smoke
- List your smoking triggers and how to avoid them
- Keep cravings at bay by keeping busy
- Exercise away the urge
For those looking to quit, there is free support online, including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook support group and an online Personal Quit Plan, as well as advice on stop smoking aids, vaping to quit smoking and free expert support from local Stop Smoking Services. Search “Smoke Free” or visit the Better Health Quit Smoking website Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
Physical benefits of stopping smoking
Stopping smoking can significantly improve your health in ways you might not expect. Once you stop smoking, some of the benefits are immediate and some are longer term:
- After 20 minutes: Pulse rate starts to return to normal.
- After 8 hours: Oxygen levels are recovering and harmful carbon monoxide in the blood is reduced by half.
- After 48 hours: The body has flushed out all carbon monoxide, lungs start to clear out mucus and ability to taste and smell is improved.
- After 72 hours: Bronchial tubes begin to relax, breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase.