Are you thinking about quitting smoking? Do you want to improve your overall health and save some money? Why not take part in this year’s Stoptober campaign?
What is Stoptober?
October marks the start of Stoptober. Stoptober is a mass smoking cessation campaign run by the NHS each year to encourage smokers to give up the habit for 28 days. This is because studies show that by breaking down the process of quitting into 28 days, you are 5 times more likely to stop for good.
Stopping smoking is hard. For many smokers, it will feel completely impossible, especially if they have made one or more attempts to quit in the past. The truth is that, for the daily smoker, it can take 30 or more attempts to quit before they stop altogether. Although this figure may seem intimidating, you should not let it deter you from trying again. Just because quitting is difficult does not mean you will never break the habit!
Although there has been a steady decline in smoking over recent decades, there are still around 6 million smokers in the UK. This year, Stoptober is particularly important. There has been an increase in smoking and vaping since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the virus is known to attack the respiratory system. This is linked to increased feelings of isolation, boredom, and anxiety caused by lockdowns and economic uncertainty.
The cost of living crisis is predicted to not only chip away at people’s disposable income, but also negatively impact their mental health. This may lead to people developing a new smoking or vaping habit or resuming an old one as a coping mechanism.
Stopping smoking is the single greatest thing you can do for your health and Stoptober is a great place to start.
How can you take part in Stoptober?
All you have to do is quit smoking for 28 days this October. It really is that simple.
Why should you take part in Stoptober?
It is estimated that 7 out of every 10 smokers want to quit. Evidence shows that smokers that seek support are 3 times more likely to quit than those who do so cold turkey. Stoptober is the perfect time to get some motivation from the 2.3 million people that have made quitting attempts since the campaign launched over 10 years ago.
In the UK alone, smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable disease and death. Cigarettes contain over 5,000 chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. When you smoke, these chemicals are not only inhaled into your lungs, but also pass into your blood and spread throughout your body. This means that everything from your skin to your heart is vulnerable to the negative effects of smoking.
Smoking generally makes you more vulnerable to respiratory infections and conditions such as the flu, bronchitis, and a persistent cough. According to recent data from the NHS, smoking is one of the leading causes of lung illnesses. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The same data reveals that 35% of respiratory-related deaths are caused by smoking. Smoking is also a major cause of at least 15 types of cancer, including mouth cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia. Smoking is also known to cause heart attacks and strokes.
Smoking is directly linked to premature ageing of the skin and increases the risk of infertility and impotence.
It is unfortunate, yet no surprise, that smoking leads to 75,000 premature deaths annually in the UK.
The truth is, there is nothing to be gained health-wise from smoking. If you stop smoking, you will not only live longer, but also feel better. Quitting smoking will have only a positive impact on your life, no matter how old you are or how long you have smoked for.
How to improve your chance of quitting permanently with Stoptober?
- Be open and talk to people about quitting and your struggles
- Make a craving management plan that will help you reduce the sense of urgency you may feel when cravings strike.
- Write down a list of reasons to quit
- Speak to other people going through the difficult journey of quitting
- Do not give up on quitting. It is important to remember that we are all human. This means that there may be instances where we give into our cravings, but this should not discourage you from trying again.
What quitting tools does Stoptober offer?
Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools, including: NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook communities and daily emails.
The NHS Personal Quit Plan, which offers support from local Stop Smoking Services.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) comes in different forms and helps you overcome your urges to smoke.
Image by Mathew MacQuarrie.