Ludlow pharmacist teams up with public health colleagues to promote Stoptober

Boots chemist in Ludlow have joined forces with Shropshire Council’s public health team to help encourage smokers in the town to take up the Stoptober challenge launched today (Wednesday 1 October 2014).

Smokers in Shropshire are still being encouraged to kick the habit by taking part in the 28- day challenge by registering online at https://stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk/registration-b.

Shropshire Council’s public health team are working with Rupesh Patel from Boots Pharmacy in Ludlow to help promote this year’s Stoptober event.  The 2013 campaign saw 65% of those taking part successfully quitting for 28 days.  In Shropshire, 1,051 people signed up to take part in Stoptober 2013, and the public health team is hoping even more will get involved this year by taking part in the campaign.

It’s not too late to take part.  By registering, you’ll be provided with a detailed 28-day step-by-step programme to support them in their smokefree attempt.  Stoptober provides smokers with a range of free tools, as well as encouragement and support from thousands of people quitting together through Stoptober social media channels.  This includes:

• a new ‘stop smoking’ pack
• a 28-day mobile phone app
• text support with daily updates
• quitting advice and tips for coping.

Stoptober 2014, launched early September, has enrolled top British comedians including Paddy McGuinness, Al Murray, Simon Brodkin (aka Lee Nelson, Jason Bent and Dr Bob) and Andi Osho will this year bring a touch of the British sense of humour to help quitters through this challenging time.

For those wanting additional support throughout the campaign, ip&e’s new health preventative service Help2Change is on hand to offer free advice, support and treatment to help you stop smoking (prescription charges may apply).  Specially-trained Help2Quit advisers, including practice nurses, midwives, pharmacists and school nurses, are available in venues across the county to help you to put your plan to stop smoking into action.  The Help2Quit team offers services at GP practices, pharmacies, community venues, supermarkets and specialist pregnancy services throughout the county.

Dr Kevin Lewis, director of preventive health programmes at Shropshire Council, said:

“Quitting smoking can be a difficult process, but successfully quitting has significant health, monetary and social benefits.  Those who stop smoking for 28 days and longer will begin to experience financial, physical and health benefits including better sense of taste and smell, and a reduced risk of lung cancer and heart disease.  Evidence shows that if a smoker can go 28 days without a cigarette, they are five times more likely to stay permanently smoke-free.”

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, added:

“As a previous smoker I know how daunting and hard it is to give up.  It’s great to see this year that Stoptober is focusing on humour to help those taking up the challenge.  Humour is a good way to deliver important messages in a way that is likely to resonate with people without being antagonistic.

“There are so many benefits to being smoke-free.  Saving money, not feeling guilt or shame, taking pride in your accomplishment, and knowing that your health improves every day, are just some of the many positives.  I really would urge those considering giving up to take up the Stoptober challenge.  It’s never too late to give up smoking and there’s still time left to join the 28-day challenge.  If you need any additional support our Help2Quit service is only a phone call away.”

The 28-day challenge starts today.  For more information and to join the biggest stop smoking challenge of its kind, go to: https://stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk/registration-b.

You can also follow the campaign @Stoptober on Twitter and like on Facebook at Facebook.com/stoptober, and check out the new Stoptober blog at nhs.uk/stoptoberblog for loads of content from Al Murray, Andi Osho, Jason Bent & Dr Bob, as well as handy guides, tips & more.  To view Stoptober’s videos’ click here: http://www.youtube.com/user/stoptoberchallenge.

For help and advice about giving up smoking in Shropshire, call Help2Quit on 01743 453537 or visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk.

Further information

Benefits of stopping smoking

Stopping smoking can make a drastic improvement to your lifestyle and 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 – Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal
• After 8 hours – Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal
• After 48 hours – Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body.  Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.  There is no nicotine in the body. Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved
• After 72 hours – Breathing becomes easier.  Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase
• After 2 to 12 weeks – Your circulation improves
• After 3 to 9 months – Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%
• After 5 years – Risk of heart attacks falls to about half compared with a person who is still smoking
• After 10 years – Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.  Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked
• The average smoker has 13 cigarettes a day, which works out as 364 cigarettes a month.  That’s £141 a month and £1,696 a year that you could be saving by not smoking.