Council’s public health team highlights benefits of stopping smoking
As part of No Smoking Day, Shropshire Council’s public health team is raising awareness of the health benefits of stopping smoking.
No matter what your age or how long you’ve been smoking, almost as soon as you quit, the health benefits begin.
The health benefits of stopping smoking start almost immediately after putting out the last cigarette.
After:
| 20 minutes | Your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal |
| 8 hours | Nicotine and carbon monoxide start to leave your body and oxygen levels return to normal. |
| 24 hours | Your lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris. |
| 48 hours | Nicotine has been eliminated from your body and your sense of smell and taste both improve. |
| 2 – 12 weeks | Exercise becomes easier and your breathing improves. |
| 3 – 9 months | Any coughs, wheezing and breathing problems are reduced as your lungs repair. |
| 1 year | Your risk of coronary heart disease is now half that of a smoker. |
There are other advantages besides the obvious benefits to health. These include having more money to spend, being a positive role model for the family, and reduced reliance on medications.
Smoking is as addictive as hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. In addition to this there are around 4,000 chemicals as well as nicotine used in cigarettes, most of which are toxic and carcinogenic.
Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, said:
“Many people now know that smoking is one of the biggest preventable causes of premature death in the UK. It’s linked to a range of serious and often fatal conditions, including heart disease and lung cancer; but there is good news. No matter what your age or how long you’ve been smoking, almost as soon as you quit, the health benefits begin. As it is No Smoking Day, I really would encourage people who do smoke to consider putting their last cigarette out and stop smoking for good.”
There is now plenty of support available to help with stopping smoking, even if you’ve smoked for a long time. Quit rates are good, especially for older people.
NHS Stop Smoking Services are available across the county, providing a combination of medication and behavioural support which substantially increases the chances of successfully quitting.
To find out more about local stop-smoking services in Shropshire, contact Help 2 Quit on 01743 453537 or go to www.healthyshropshire.co.uk.
