Stub out the myths on smoking
THE British Heart Foundation is calling
on smokers to bust the common myths associated with smoking and commit to
quitting on 11 March 2015 it will be:- 'No Smoking Day'.
The charity expects nearly 1 million smokers to attempt to quit on the day.
New research released ahead of 'No Smoking Day' shows that smokers have a 70%
increased risk of anxiety and depression when compared with non-smokers, despite
the commonly held perception that lighting up is a stress reliever
Levels of anxiety and depression reported by long term ex-smokers were
indistinguishable from people who have never smoked and much lower than current
smokers. This suggests that quitting smoking could help people combat anxiety
and depression and improve mental health.
Professor Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology at UCL and lead
researcher, said:- "Our study found that long term ex-smokers have similar
prevalence of anxiety and depression to non-smokers and considerably lower
levels than smokers. Quitting smoking could be the key to improving not only
your physical health, but your mental health too."
The findings support a recent review of 26 studies published in the British
Medical Journal in 2014 that found that quitting smoking is associated with
reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and improved positive mood and quality
of life compared with continuing to smoke. The review also found that quitting
smoking has the same or stronger effect on treating mood and anxiety disorders
than antidepressants.
Liverpool's Director of Public Health Sandra Davies said:- "Signing up to
quit smoking really is one of the best things you can do for your health and
your family's health. We know that the vast majority of smokers in Liverpool are
keen to quit and there is lots of support to wean people off tobacco so why not
make No Smoking Day the day you start to stop and join millions of other smokers
to quit together."
Liverpool still has 1 of the worst rates of lung cancer in the country,
despite the rate of smoking falling dramatically; down from 35% in 2005 to 25%
in 2013.
Nearly 1 in 5 UK adults smokes, increasing the risk of coronary heart
disease, stroke and a variety of cancers.
The good news is that stopping smoking
is the single best thing you can do for your heart health, and the risk to your
health decreases significantly soon after stopping.
Public Health England are encouraging as many smokers as possible to sign up to
the free:- 'One Day Quit' tool and begin their smokefree journey on 11 March
2015,
alongside thousands of fellow quitters.
Those looking to use the tool can sign up until 10 March 2015,
online and also get supportive
emails and texts.
If people wish to sign up for free support on No Smoking Day itself, then they
can access the Smokefree 4 week programme by searching 'Smokefree'
online.
Smokers can also get free local, confidential, friendly advice and practical
help to quit smoking from Roy Castle FagEnds on:- 0800 195 2131.
To find out which pharmacies provide stop smoking services, contact health promotion on:- 0151 295 3256.
