NATIONAL NO SMOKING DAY - 13TH MARCH
National No Smoking Day on 13th March 2024 serves as a crucial reminder for the 5.3 million smokers in the nation to consider quitting. This year is particularly significant as it marks the 40th anniversary of the initiative. Quitting smoking leads to immediate health benefits, and with a variety of support options available through the NHS Better Health Quit Smoking Campaign, individuals are encouraged to take this opportunity to make a positive change in their lives.
When you decide to quit smoking, positive changes begin to occur— you can experience immediate improvements in your health. Quitting smoking becomes more manageable with proper support, and there are numerous options to explore.
Methods to stop.
While some rely on sheer willpower to quit smoking, the journey to a smoke-free life is smoother with the right assistance.
Explore various support options tailored to aid you in your quitting process.
Consider factors such as the cost and potential side effects of different aids. If you've attempted quitting before, reflect on what methods proved effective and contemplate potential adjustments.
The key is persistence; don't give up. Experiment with different approaches until you find the one that suits you best.
Benefits of quitting smoking -
Better Physical Health
Your taste and smell senses become sharper, you experience easier breathing, and your energy levels increase when you quit smoking.
Additionally, other advantages emerge such as:
- Improved lung function, resulting in decreased coughing, wheezing, or other respiratory issues.
- Enhanced blood circulation to your heart and muscles, facilitating physical activity.
Reduce Risk of Diseases
By quitting smoking, you substantially lower your long-term risks of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and stroke.
- After one year, your risk of heart attack is halved compared to that of a smoker.
- After ten years, your risk of death from lung cancer drops to half that of a smoker.
- After fifteen years, your risk of heart attack equals that of someone who has never smoked.
Improves Mental Health
While you might believe that smoking contributes to your mental wellbeing and aids in relaxation, stress management, and coping with life's challenges, the reality is quite the opposite.
Quitting smoking actually enhances mental health and overall wellbeing.
What happens when you quit?
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After 20 minutes |
Check your pulse rate, it will already be starting to return to normal. |
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After 8 hours |
Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. |
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After 48 hours |
All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving. |
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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. |
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After 2 to 12 weeks |
Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved. |
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After 3 to 9 months |
Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases by up to 10%. |
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After 1 year |
Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker's. |
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After 10 years |
More great news! Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker's. |