Dont Wait – quit today
“I had tried before but COVID was the fright I needed.”
Philip Kyle, 55, Newcastle
Over 1.5 million people require social care as a direct result of smoking
COVID-19 has increased the likelihood of smokers making a successful quit attempt. It is clear that the coronavirus pandemic has been a time in which many people have considered ways to improve their health – and this is certainly the case for smoking. It has been estimated that a million people nationally had quit during the first lock down and hundreds of thousands have maintained that success.
Make 2021 the year you quit smoking for good. Stop smoking for your health, to save money, and for your family.
Smoking damages the lungs and the immune system, leaving us more vulnerable to infections. It also increases your risks of heart disease, diabetes, COPD, stroke and cancer. And that means if you do get coronavirus, symptoms could be more severe.
What happens when you quit?
After 20 minutes
Check your pulse rate – it will be starting to return to normal.
After 8 hours
Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the level of harmful carbon monoxide in your blood will have reduced by half.
After 48 hours
All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.
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.
After 2-12 weeks
Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved.
After 3-9 months
Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases.
After 1 year
Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker’s.
After 10 years
More great news! Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker’s.
Source: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
Where to start
To get started, contact your pharmacy, GP or to find local support and free online quitting tools visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
A handy list of North Tyneside Pharmacies https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1445/support-stop-smoking