Make a fresh quit for No Smoking Day
People who smoke in Gateshead are being encouraged to put smoking behind them this No Smoking Day for better health, more money and less stress.
People are being encouraged to make a fresh quit and visit the Fresh website (opens new window) for tips, advice and local quit support.
There are lots of reasons to make a quit attempt and go smokefree:
- Feel healthier: easier breathing, fewer coughs and colds and less risk of a diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and COPD
- Practice makes perfect: if you've tried before, you can learn from what worked and what didn't. Treat previous tries as a stepping stone.
- More money: quitting smoking will give you money you didn't know you had - another £47 a week or £2400 a year.
- Less stress: quitting smoking is proven to leave people feeling calmer and happier after a few weeks. Using quit aids, nicotine replacement or a vape can help ease any cravings while you quit.
- Quitting smoking makes it less likely your children will smoke
Gateshead Council is supporting the Smoking Survivors campaign from Fresh in the run up to this year's No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13 March. The annual No Smoking Day campaign is now in its 40th year.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: "No Smoking Day is another great opportunity to give quitting a go.
"However you quit smoking it's a good way - whether that's using a quit aid, getting support or switching to vaping. Easing cravings can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.
"Our Smoking Survivors campaign has helped thousands of people to move closer to quitting smoking. Even if you have tried to quit before, why not make a fresh quit - this time it can be different."
It can take a number of attempts to successfully stop for good - but there are lots of ways to stop which can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.
Your chances improve if you use a quitting aid or switch completely to vaping to reduce cravings. Stop Smoking Services can also help you develop a plan to help you stop for good.
Here's how your body recovers when you quit
After 20 minutes
Your pulse rate starts to return to normal.
After 8 hours
Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the level of harmful carbon monoxide in your blood will have reduced by half.
After 48 hours
All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.
After 72 hours
If you notice that breathing feels easier, it's because your bronchial tubes have started to relax. Also your energy will be increasing.
After 2-12 weeks
Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved.
After 6 weeks
Smokers who stop have better mental health than those who continue to smoke. One study found that benefits could be seen as soon as six weeks and were maintained even a number of years after stopping.
After 3-9 months
Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases.
After 1 year
Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker's.
After 10 years
Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker's.
Source: NHS.uk (opens new window)
People who smoke in Gateshead are being encouraged to put smoking behind them this No Smoking Day for better health, more money and less stress.
People are being encouraged to make a fresh quit and visit the Fresh website (opens new window) for tips, advice and local quit support.
There are lots of reasons to make a quit attempt and go smokefree:
- Feel healthier: easier breathing, fewer coughs and colds and less risk of a diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and COPD
- Practice makes perfect: if you've tried before, you can learn from what worked and what didn't. Treat previous tries as a stepping stone.
- More money: quitting smoking will give you money you didn't know you had - another £47 a week or £2400 a year.
- Less stress: quitting smoking is proven to leave people feeling calmer and happier after a few weeks. Using quit aids, nicotine replacement or a vape can help ease any cravings while you quit.
- Quitting smoking makes it less likely your children will smoke
Gateshead Council is supporting the Smoking Survivors campaign from Fresh in the run up to this year's No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13 March. The annual No Smoking Day campaign is now in its 40th year.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: "No Smoking Day is another great opportunity to give quitting a go.
"However you quit smoking it's a good way - whether that's using a quit aid, getting support or switching to vaping. Easing cravings can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.
"Our Smoking Survivors campaign has helped thousands of people to move closer to quitting smoking. Even if you have tried to quit before, why not make a fresh quit - this time it can be different."
It can take a number of attempts to successfully stop for good - but there are lots of ways to stop which can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.
Your chances improve if you use a quitting aid or switch completely to vaping to reduce cravings. Stop Smoking Services can also help you develop a plan to help you stop for good.
Here's how your body recovers when you quit
After 20 minutes
Your pulse rate starts to return to normal.
After 8 hours
Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the level of harmful carbon monoxide in your blood will have reduced by half.
After 48 hours
All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.
After 72 hours
If you notice that breathing feels easier, it's because your bronchial tubes have started to relax. Also your energy will be increasing.
After 2-12 weeks
Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved.
After 6 weeks
Smokers who stop have better mental health than those who continue to smoke. One study found that benefits could be seen as soon as six weeks and were maintained even a number of years after stopping.
After 3-9 months
Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases.
After 1 year
Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker's.
After 10 years
Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker's.
Source: NHS.uk (opens new window)
