The 28 day stop smoking challenge from Public Health England (PHE) begins tomorrow (Tuesday 1 October) and is based on research that shows that people who can stop smoking for 28 days are 5 times more likely to stay smokefree for good.
Smoking rates in Wolverhampton have continued to decrease over recent years, but smoking remains the largest preventable cause of death in the city and is responsible for over 2,000 hospital admissions a year.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you, on both a short term and long term basis.
"For instance, 48 hours after stopping smoking, carbon monoxide will be eliminated from your body; after 72 hours, breathing becomes easier; and from two weeks onwards, your circulation improves. In the longer term your risk of heart attack and lung cancer falls.
"While quitting is never easy, Stoptober is the perfect time to give it a try, particularly with the support of friends, family and work colleagues. Remember, if you can make it to 28 days smokefree, you’re five times more likely to quit for good.
“Advice from Public Health England is that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risk of smoking and is up to 95% less harmful. Vaping makes it much more likely you will quit smoking successfully than relying on willpower alone.”
This year the Stoptober campaign is highlighting the benefits of “breaking up” with cigarettes, urging smokers to re-evaluate their relationship with smoking and providing support and information to those wishing to go smokefree.
Nigel Smith, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager at PHE West Midlands, said: "This year we want to encourage these smokers to break up their relationship with tobacco and make a quit attempt in October, and a combination of stop smoking methods are the most effective way to quit."
To take part in Stoptober, please sign up at One You. For more help and support to stop smoking, please visit Wolverhampton Information Network.
Information to help clear up some of the myths about e-cigarettes can be found at Public health matters.
