Smokers urged to ‘stub it out’
Smokers in Sunderland are being encouraged to put their lungs first, strengthen their immune system and breathe easier ahead of flu season by quitting the habit.
T h i s yea r 's ‘ Sto ptob e r ’ campaign aims to encourage more people to quit smoking – as fears grow over a second coronavirus wave, combined with the annual rise in flu cases
The North East has seen biggest fall in smoking in the country – with one in seven people, 15.3%, still using cigarettes compared to 29% in 2005.
New figures suggest more smokers have been making quit attempts during the pandemic and this year’s Stoptober campaign aims to build on that.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, director of anti-smoking group Fresh, said: “We are all conscious of the need to stay fit and healthy right now and not place ourselves at an additional risk of ill health.
“Smoking harms your fitness and your lungs, and increases the risks of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
“Since the start of the pandemic we have seen an increase in smokers trying to quit and, as autumn approaches, it is incredibly important to give it another go.
When Nathan Freeman, from Sunderland, started feeling out of breath while out walking with his family and, in May 2018, he stopped smoking after 37 years.
Nathan, 49, said: “When I was younger, I didn’t really think about the damage I was doing to my health but, as I got older, I started to notice that
I was struggling for breath when walking uphill and was puffing and panting.
“I knew I couldn’t quit on my own, so I decided to get some support through my local pharmacy in Hylton Castle. The staff were excellent and understood what I was going through. I found the weekly checks were good for my motivation and there was also financial assistance with nicotine replacement therapies.
“I now feel a lot heathier; my chest is much better and I no longer struggle to breathe."
Stoptober provides the information and support people need to quit smoking for 28 days, based on research that show that, if a smoker can make it to 28 days smokefree, they are five times more likely to quit for good.
Fo r m o re i n f o r m at i o n about the campaign, search ‘Stoptober’ online.