New bid to help people stop stub out their habit
Smokers in the North East are being urged to give up – for the good of their mental health.
Experts say say the risk or cancer, heart disease and breathing problems is well known – but quitting can also have a positive effect on stress levels, anxiety and depression.
North East anti smoking group Fresh has relaunched its ‘Don’t Wait’ campaign in the run up to No Smoking Day on March 10.
Dr Ruth Sharrock, clinical lead on Tobacco for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System, said: “Patients are amazed that once they have stopped smoking, their feeling that smoking was relieving stress was false.
"Quitting allowed them to break free of the vicious cycle of thinking about the next cigarette.
“While covid has been a wake-up call to quit for thousands of smokers, stress and anxiety might be putting others off stopping, but when people finally find the support and help they need and liberate themselves from smoking they feel empowered, and it is a huge boost to their mental health.”
She added: “The single most important thing a smoker can do to improve their health and extend life expectancy is to stop smoking.”
Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: “The last year has been difficult for everyone but m any smokers have quit during COVID, and the chances of successfully quitting are as high as they’ve ever been.”
For supporr and advice on quitting, people are being urged to contact their local pharmacy, GP or the free online quitting tools at https://www.nhs.uk/betterhealth/quit-smoking/