No Smoking Day, which takes place on the second Wednesday of March each year, is a great opportunity to encourage and support the nation’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you.
"Smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England, accounting for around for 64,000 deaths annually. Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital with a smoking related disease – but and when you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health.
"And it's not just your body which will benefit, your purse or wallet will too. On average smokers spend £38.59 a week on tobacco – and that means you could have around £2,000 more to spend a year by quitting, and even more if you are a really heavy smoker.
"It’s much easier to stop smoking when you get the right support and there are lots of help out there. Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including the NHS Quit Smoking app as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
“So this National No Smoking Day, why not join the thousands of smokers committing to quitting? Stop smoking for 28 days and you're 5 times more likely to give up for good."
There is also a Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook, or you can sign up for daily email support.
If you are a smoker and are currently pregnant or thinking about having a baby, stopping smoking is the best thing for you and your unborn child. Pregnant women can get support to stop smoking from The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust’s Maternity Tobacco Dependency Team, who can be contacted via rwh-tr.maternitysmokingcessationteam@nhs.net.
For more help and support to stop smoking, please visit Quit Smoking.
Established in 1984, this year marks the 40th anniversary of No Smoking Day. Since this time smoking prevalence has reduced by 2 thirds, but there is still some way to go to achieve the Government's ambition of becoming a smoke free nation by 2030.
