This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2014at 12:41 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

Make A Change This No Smoking Day!

Everybody has their own personal reason for wanting to give up smoking. Some people give up as part of a larger lifestyle change – to be healthier, to get fit, or to save money.

For some, it’s more about how their smoking affects the people around them – their family, friends and little ones. Whatever your reason, think carefully about your motivation and keep a reminder in key places as it can really help to keep you going through the tough times.

For many people exercise is a great distraction when it comes to stopping smoking. We all know the benefits of giving up cigarettes and here at Active Nation the team are on hand to offer you lots of support and advice on sport and exercise.

Smoking is one of the biggest preventable causes of premature death in the UK. More than 100,000 smokers in the UK die from smoking-related causes each year, including about 22,000 from heart and circulatory diseases and 45,000 from cancer. Smoking is a major risk factor for developing furring and hardening of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

No matter what your age or how long you’ve been smoking, almost as soon as you quit, the health benefits begin. After just 20 minutes your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. In 24 hours your lungs clear out mucus and other smoking debris. Exercise will become easier and your breathing improved from 2- 12 weeks and after a year your risk of coronary heart disease is now half that of a smoker.

Are you under 35? If you stop now, it’s likely you’ll live just as long as a non-smoker.

And even if you’re between 65 and 74, give up smoking and you’ll have a better life expectancy beyond 75 than those who continue to smoke.

Across the UK, stop smoking services offer free local help to anyone who’s ready to give up. Smokers that use these services are 4 times more likely to succeed in quitting. For more information visit: www.nhs.uk/smokefree or call 0300 123 1044.

Last year’s national No Smoking Day encouraged a million people to attempt to stop smoking. This year’s campaign has a V for Victory theme, which is set to inspire just as many people – if not more – to win the battle against cigarettes by giving them up for good. For more advice and information visit: www.nosmokingday.org.uk