Smoking
Did you know that in Nottingham more people smoke than the national average? (source: Nottingham City PCT listen to reason website)
Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health. There are adverts on the television, warnings on cigarette packets, different websites and support groups but many young people still choose to smoke for various reasons...
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We have put together some useful information, interesting facts and links to other sites and support to help you if:
You are already smoker.
You have considered starting smoking.
You want to help a friend or family member to stop smoking.
Smoking and Your Health
The main and most important reason to stop smoking is your health. Every year 114,000 people die from smoking related illnesses. As a smoker you increase your risk of developing at least 50 serious diseases and health problems such as:
Did you know that heavy smokers have about a 50% chance of dying from a smoking related illness by the time they are 69.
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If you decide to stop smoking you could notice drastic improvements to your life and health as soon as 20 minutes after you have stopped. Take a look at the stop smoking timeline to see how quickly your health can improve.
Smoking and Your Lifestyle
Of course the main reason to stop smoking is your health, but there are many other benefits to stopping smoking
such as...
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Looking and feeling better should give you a massive incentive to stay smoke free.
Smoking and Money
Smoking is an expensive habit as it costs not only your health, but a lot of your money too.
Follow this link to the NHS smoke free cost calculator to find out just how much your habit is costing you. Once you have worked it out think of all the things you could be spending that money on each month like new clothes, trips to the cinema, meals out etc. Or, if you want to save for a bigger purchase like a holiday or a car think how much all that extra cash could help you reach your goal! Did you know that on average a 20-a-day smoker pends £1,600 a year on their habit. That could easy buy you a fortnight holiday in the sun with a friend. So when you go to buy your next packet of cigarettes think of that holiday and it might help you change your mind.
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Imagine how nice it would be to have more spare cash to spend on treats for yourself, friends and family.
Secondhand Smoke
If the reasons above weren't good enough this should make you think again. Wherever people smoke, there is secondhand smoke. Even if you open a window it can still linger in a room after two and a half hours! People that breath secondhand smoke are at risk of the same disease as smokers and it is estimated that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths a year. (source: NHS Smoke Free website). Children are particularly at risk if they are live in a household where someone smokes as they are more likely to develop ear and respiratory illnesses and they are also more likely to become a smoker themselves.
So if you are a smoker you are not only putting yourself at risk, but all the people around you that you care about.
As of 1st July 2007 virtually all enclosed public place in England are now smoke free. It is against the law to smoke in:
Did you know that secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, 69 of which can cause cancer.
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At some sites such as hospitals and some government buildings they even have no smoking policies which state you are not allowed to smoke anywhere on the grounds inside or outside.
Stop Smoking Support
Is it time to say stop and stub out your last cigarette? Here are some people who can help......
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