This No Smoking Day, 12th March 2008, take The Great No Smoking Day Challenge and quit smoking to look and feel healthier, fitter and better – not to mention saving a huge amount of cash.
Three quarters of smokers would like to stop and every No Smoking Day over a million try. Now in its 25th year, it is a firm fixture in the UK calendar because of its popularity amongst smokers and continued success.
No Smoking Day aims to help people who want to stop smoking by creating a supportive environment for them, and by highlighting the many sources of help available to people who want to quit.
But will last year’s smoking ban have boosted the numbers keen to kick the habit and make it easier for them to do so? Not likely, according to recent survey results by Keepthedoctoraway.co.uk.
We continue to canvass the opinions of smokers and non-smokers, as well as celebrities, to gauge the reaction to the ban in the first few months of becoming law.
The most common concerns cited by visitors to the website were the fact that the smell of smoke no longer masked other unpleasant smells in pubs and clubs, that having to leave conversations to go outside for a smoke ruined a good night out and that they were worried the ban had been bad for businesses – but most agreed with Keepthedoctoraway.co.uk that despite all this, the ban is a great idea if it helps people to quit this dangerous habit.
To help you quit, we’ve listed everything you need to know about smoking’s health risks, the dangers to those around you, and the process of quitting. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re up against – but you’ll also know exactly why it’s completely worth it. To read our comprehensive facts about smoking, Click Here.
“Quitting smoking is best lifestyle change you can make; it will give you better health, better skin, more money, more sex appeal and more energy,” said Vishnee Sauntoo, Campaign Manager for the No Smoking Day charity.
“Why not choose No Smoking Day as your quit date and get some help? Your local free NHS stop smoking service is ready to support you and you are four times more likely to succeed in your quit attempt.”
Quit Smoking: The benefits for you:
• The benefits start quickly and within just 2 days of stopping you’ll start to have more energy and feel fitter
• Improve your smile: smoking can cause yellow teeth, gum disease and bad breath
• Smoking cuts the air flow to your skin leaving it grey and dull. Giving up helps bring back your healthy glow, and will also clear your skin – new research released by the British Association of Dermatologists has found that 42 per cent of smokers have acne compared to one in ten non-smokers.
• Smoking can create hormonal imbalances which decrease libido – so giving up smoking could improve your sex life!
• Giving up 20-a-day is like a £36 a week pay rise! In six months you could save over £900 – think what you could buy with that amount of cash!
Quit Smoking: The benefits for your children:
• Children are three times more likely to smoke if their parents smoke. By stopping you are helping them not to start!
• Just by living with a smoker, children inhale the equivalent of up to 80 cigarettes per year. That’s enough to cause serious damage, including making them more likely to develop lung cancer in later years.
Quit Smoking: No Smoking Day’s top tips for successful quitting:
• Find a buddy who’s also going to stop smoking – it’s easier if you’ve got a friend
• Throw away ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes – you are no longer a smoker
• Patches and nicotine gum are a great way to stop the cravings – and available on prescription from your doctor
• Enrol in a free stop smoking course – contact your GP for details of a local venue
• Avoid anyone who isn’t supporting your quit attempt
• Get out for a walk or do something to distract you every time you feel tempted to smoke
• Join a gym and enjoy a healthy new you
• Fill the fridge with healthy, low calorie snacks like carrot sticks and celery so if you’re tempted to eat rather than smoke you won’t pile on the pounds
• Save the money you used to spend on cigarettes in a jar and treat yourself after a month: if you smoked 20-a-day, you’ll have saved £156
Visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk
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