Last week, the borough’s first citizen, Mayor Cllr Neil Phillips, joined thousands of other people up and down the country in making a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking and in the process hopes to raise money for Mary Ann Evans Hospice.
Cllr Phillips is calling on other local people to join him in trying to kick the habit and also raise money for the hospice. To help him achieve his goal, he has enlisted the services of the George Eliot Hospital run Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service. The service offers a range of treatments, support and advice to help those looking to quit.
In the latest health column from the hospital, service manager Jane Wright highlights some of the benefits of quitting smoking.
The most significant benefit of quitting smoking is living a longer life, and alongside this a better quality of life. Half of long-term smokers die from a smoking related disease such as heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. On average, if you quit smoking by 30 you will add 10 years to your life and if you quit by 60 you will add three years to your life, so it’s never too late to quit.
Stopping smoking not only adds years to your life but these years are more likely to be spent fitter and happier. In fact, within 2-12 weeks of quitting smoking, circulation improves, which makes everyday tasks much easier. Quitting also boosts the immune system, making it easier to fight colds and flu. Non-smokers will also feel less tired and are less likely to have headaches.
Other benefits include younger looking skin, whiter teeth, better breathing, less stress, improved sense of smell and taste and improved fertility. Simply put, quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health and wellbeing.
If you do not want to quit for yourself, why not consider quitting for the benefit of your loved ones. Secondhand smoking increases a non-smoker’s risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Secondhand smoke also doubles the risk of children developing chest illness, including pneumonia and bronchitis as well as ear infections, wheezing and asthma. Children are also three times more likely to get lung cancer in later life compared with children who live with non-smokers.
The Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service helped over 3,700 people in Warwickshire quit smoking last year*. These people will now be experiencing the benefits that come with not smoking. If you would like to experience the benefits too, why not contact the service for advice on 0800 085 2917. Alternatively, text ‘LIFE’ to 80800 or visit www.smokefreewarwickshire.org
Alternatively, why not attend their New Year support group at Hatters Space Community Centre. Registration for this takes place on Monday 16 January between 6.30-7.30pm and will run on Monday evenings for the following seven weeks.
To sponsor the Mayor and make a donation, cheques can be made out to ‘The Mayors Charity Appeal 2011-12’ and posted to the ‘Town Hall, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5AA’.
*2010/11 financial year.
