Published on: 20 September 2024
This Stoptober, residents across South Tyneside and Sunderland are being urged to "make a fresh quit" with the launch of a major quit smoking campaign.
Our Trust is backing the Smoking Survivors campaign in partnership with Fresh. The campaign features real families from across the North East, sharing their personal stories and highlighting the profound impact smoking has had on their lives.
The initiative invites people who smoke to visit FreshQuit.co.uk for tips, advice, and local support, making the journey to a smoke-free life less stressful.
It ties in with Stoptober - the nation’s biggest mass quit attempt. Getting the right support can make quitting much less daunting – and if you make it to just 28 days quit you are FIVE TIMES more likely to stay stopped.
Just giving it a go for 28 days can feel less scary to some people. But you’re doing it in the knowledge that by the time you reach day 28, you’re well on the road!
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said:
"Most people who smoke regret ever starting – it damages health and costs tens of thousands of pounds to smoke over a lifetime.
"The good news is that thousands of people every year successfully manage to quit smoking and have a better life by putting smoking behind them.
"Don’t ever give up on quitting even if you don’t succeed first or second time. Keep trying - next time it can be different."
It can take a number of attempts to successfully stop for good - but there are lots of ways to stop which can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.
Your chances improve if you use a quitting aid or switch completely to vaping to reduce cravings. Stop Smoking Services can also help you develop a plan to help you stop for good.
Here’s how your body recovers when you quit
- After 20 minutes - Your pulse rate starts 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 6 weeks - Smokers who stop have better mental health than those who continue to smoke. One study found that benefits could be seen as soon as six weeks and were maintained even a number of years after stopping.
- 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 - Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker's.
