Keeping Me Well - Cardiff and Vale University Hospital

Stopping Smoking

For some, the stress of the pandemic may have led to them smoking more, while others may have been considering how they can improve their own health and the health of their family.

Creating healthy habits such as exercise, noticing triggers, being mindful of when cravings occur can improve chances of quitting. It may take just 21 days to break the habit.

Stopping smoking can benefit as part of a balanced healthy lifestyle.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things that smokers can do for their health, and they will start to feel the benefits immediately.

After you quit smoking, your body burns calories more slowly. Even if you eat no more than when you smoked, you may put on some weight.

But being more active can help. Regular exercise and physical activity and healthy eating may prevent about half the weight gain expected after a year of quitting smoking.

Stop before your Op

If you are due to have surgery, the sooner you stop smoking before your operation the better.  We know how hard it can be to give up smoking, but when you’re ready to stop you don’t have to go it alone. There is lots of free support available if you would like to stop smoking for your operation as a short term goal, or if you are thinking of stopping smoking for good.

Second-hand Smoke

People who breathe second-hand smoke are at risk of many of the same diseases as smokers, including cancer and heart disease. Children exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks and ear infections.

Quitting smoking could make a significant difference to the health of the people in your life.

There has never been a better time to try to quit with free expert NHS support, free products to use, and advisors available to help you get over the barriers to quitting.

Based on the average price, somebody who smokes 20 cigarettes a day would save £1,500 per year. What would you buy with that? 

Support

There is plenty of free support available to stop smoking and you are four times more likely to stop smoking using an NHS Stop Smoking Service than if you try to quit alone.

For local Welsh and national organisations and services that can help you, visit Dewis Cymru.

Please visit the Help Me Quit website for more information, or call 0800 085 2219.

Keeping Me Well - Cardiff and Vale University Hospital

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