This entry was posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2014at 1:18 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

Take Up The Challenge This Stoptober!

Giving up smoking is no laughing matter, as anyone who has tried to quit knows – but the latest annual challenge aimed at encouraging smokers to stop is recruiting some of the country’s comedians to help. Al Murray, ‘Take Me Out’ host Paddy McGuinness, former medical doctor turned stand-up comedian Simon Brodkin and Andi Osho have pledged support for Stoptober 2014.

Someone who quits smoking for Stoptober October 1st-28th), and doesn’t smoke again, could gain an extra seven days of life, every 28 days, for the rest of their life. Along with the health benefits, stopping will save the average smoker more than £150 a month and almost £2,000 a year.

Despite all of the advice, smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable illness and premature deaths in Britain – with around 114,000 people dying every year from smoking-related illnesses.

There are approximately 10 million adults in Britain who smoke cigarettes. Smokers lose on average 16 years of their life compared with non-smokers and 90 per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking.

One in every two long-term smokers will die prematurely from smoking related disease unless they quit. Two thirds of smokers say they want to quit but only 4 in 10 told a recent survey that they have tried in the last year.

But it’s not all bad news – research also shows that those who stop smoking for 28 days are 5 times more likely to stay smoke free and Stoptober’s aim is to help smokers achieve this goal.

Tens of thousands of smokers across the country have already committed to the challenge which kicks off next Wednesday (October 1^st). The programme provides smokers with a range of free support including a new stop smoking pack, a 28-day mobile phone app and text support with daily updates and quitting advice, detailed tools and tips for coping.

One health advisor said: “Smoking contributes to the four major killers, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancers and respiratory disease.  We want to encourage more people to give up smoking and Stoptober is a fantastic way to quit and offers all the support that smokers may need to take the first step to stopping for good.”

Feeling inspired to kick the habit? For more information and to sign up to the Stoptober challenge visit: www.stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk