Smoking Cessation

Smoking claims around 80,000 lives a year in the UK (or around 64,000 lives a year in England) and causes one in four of all cancer deaths in England and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users. We know most smokers want to quit but lack a plan to do so. Quitting without support (relying on willpower and going ‘cold turkey’) is the least effective way of quitting, but is how most quit attempts start…and then fail.

There are so many reasons to quit– even if you’ve smoked for many years or you’ve tried before. Not everybody manages to quit first time around. The important thing is giving it a go. Each time you try it is another stepping stone to success.  It’s never too late to quit. Make today the start of your body’s recovery.

The surgery no longer offers a quit-smoking clinic but there are plenty of services around that are dedicated to helping you reach your goal. Please read further to find out more about the benefits of quitting smoking, hints, tips and advice on quitting and what services are available to help.

What are the benefits to quitting smoking?

Stopping smoking brings multiple benefits to health, some immediate and others that build over time. These include having more energy and being able to breathe more easily. For symptoms of anxiety and depression, stopping smoking is as effective as taking antidepressants. Just 6 weeks after quitting, people start feeling happier as well as healthier.

Smoking can cause 16 types of cancer, heart disease, COPD and stroke. However, few people realise that smoking is also a significant risk factor for dementia. If you stop smoking it will help protect your brain health and reduce your risk of dementia. To find out more please visit the link below:

All you need to know about smoking and dementia – Alzheimer’s UK

Text from above image:

Smoking doubles the risk of dementia by:

• narrowing the blood vessels in the heart and the brain
• increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke
• causing oxidative stress which damages the brain

Today is the day.
For help to quit smoking search 'NHS smokefree'

Financial benefits to stopping smoking:

You’ll also have more money in your pocket. On average a smoker could save £47 a week by quitting smoking. That’s around £2,450 a year to spend on other things once you quit.

Please take a look at the video below to a timeline of the physical benefits of quitting smoking:

How do I quit smoking?

If you’ve decided to quit smoking this year, here are ten top tips to help you succeed:

1. Pick a quit date and add it to your calendar
2. List your reasons to quit
3. Use stop smoking aids to help manage cravings
4. Change your routine if you smoke at certain times of day
5. Tell people you are quitting
6. If you’ve tried to quit before, remember what worked
7. Have a plan if you are tempted to smoke
8. List your smoking triggers and how to avoid them
9. Keep cravings at bay by keeping busy
10. Exercise away the urge

Need more motivation? You’re far more likely to quit smoking successfully with the right support. Discover what’s available at NHS Better Health and prepare to quit for good this New Year. They offer a range of tools to help you quit available including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool.

Their website provides a wealth of information and advice on proven quitting methods: the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit, and expert support from local Stop Smoking Services. Just visit the Better Health Quit Smoking Website below.

For more tips, advice and information on the benefits of quitting smoking please click on the link below to take a look at an easy read booklet from Better Health.

  Better Health Quit Smoking Booklet (PDF, 2.34MB)

For even more support click below to download the free NHS stop smoking app

• NHS Quit Smoking on the App Store (apple.com)
• NHS Quit Smoking – Apps on Google Play

You can also now receive help to succeed in your journey towards a smoke-free future via a self-referral to Fitter Futures. Please click on the link below to read more about this service and to download the self-referral form on our Fitter Futures Page.

For other services to help you stop smoking please see the sites below:

• Cancer Research UK Stop Smoking
• Quit4Good (WCC Stop Smoking Service)
• NHS Live Well – Quit Smoking
• Stop Smoking In Pregnancy Service
• Better Health: Quit Smoking

For a selection of webinars to help you quit please visit the ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) Youtube channel below:

• ASH UK – YouTube

Never give up on giving up. Every time you try to stop smoking, you’re a step closer to success.