With the rising cost of living, there has never been a better time to quit smoking. Not only is this the best thing you can do for your finances, but also for your health and the health of those around you. Here’s why:
- Smoking negatively affects your family – second hand smoke exposure can lead to breathing difficulties, allergies, chest infections and even death in children.
- A 20-a-day smoker can save over £3,000 a year by stopping smoking – see how much you could save by visiting nhs.uk/smokefree
- If a parent smokes, their child is three times more likely to smoke later in life.
- Smoking makes you look older – the habit results in premature aging from dry skin, darkened teeth, and yellow fingernails.
- Lung cancer and heart disease – not only is smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer but smoking one pack a day, will double your risk of a heart attack.
No matter how long you have smoked for, it is never too late to quit. You can start seeing the benefits immediately. Look below to see what happens just 20 minutes after making your decision:
- 20 minutes – your pulse rate will already be returning to normal.
- After 48 hours – All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are flushing out mucus and your sense of taste and smell are improving.
- After 2 to 12 weeks – blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better and your circulation will have improved.
If you would like to experience these benefits as soon as possible, the wellbeing service is here for you. The wellbeing service offers support in:
- Preparing you for your quit date
- Providing weekly contact with a trained adviser
- Arranging for you to get stop-smoking products
- Giving guidance on using e-cigarettes
Amy, aged 38, who quit smoking earlier this year with the help of the wellbeing service said, “I would be in a lot worse health right now if it wasn’t for the wellbeing service. They helped me breakdown the challenge into small achievable steps and supported me one step at a time.”
If you are a Portsmouth resident and would like to get started with the wellbeing service, you can fill out a self-referral form, or call 02392294001.
Find out more about Stoptober and the support available to help you stop smoking on the NHS Better Health website.
