SMOKERS across Warwickshire are being urged to quit the habit for the sake of their mental wellbeing.
National No Smoking Day falls today (Wednesday) – an initiative to encourage smokers to give up for good.
Research shows those who quit for six weeks or more are happier and experience less anxiety and depression than those who carry on smoking.
The pressures of the pandemic have resulted in a rise in stress and concern about health and smokers experiencing stress and mental distress are likely to be smoking even more.
There is also evidence giving up smoking could reduce the risk of developing dementia, with the World Health Organisation estimating that 14 per cent of cases of dementia worldwide are caused by smoking.
Warwickshire’s stop smoking support service, Quit4Good, is a free 12-week programme providing regular support from expert Stop Smoking Advisors and stop smoking medication available at a number of Pharmacies and GPs across the county. Alternatively, NHS telephone and online support is available and can also be accessed through an NHS app.
Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) health spokesman Les Caborn said: “Quitting smoking can be less stressful than people may fear and can improve a sense of wellbeing. Covid-19 means that we all have less control over our lives than we’d like, but smokers can take control on No Smoking Day. In Warwickshire the Quit4Good service has helped thousands to become smoke free, and research has shown that you are four times more likely to stop smoking for good if you sign up to the Quit4Good 12-week programme, as well as saving on average £3,000 a year after quitting.”
Smoking is also the single biggest cause of accidental fires in the home, often because of people being careless when smoking in bed or not putting cigarettes out properly after drinking alcohol.
WCC safety spokesman Andy Crump added: “With people spending so much more time in their homes at the moment it is more important than ever to remind them of the fire risk posed by smoking. No Smoking Day is an excellent opportunity to put that cigarette out for good and extinguish the fire risk in the process.”
Visit quit4good.co.uk for more advice and information.
