‘When you stop smoking, good things start to happen’

Stoptober is back and is calling on the over five million smokers in England to join the thousands of smokers who are committing to quitting this October.

This year's Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting remaining one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. When you stop smoking good things start to happen - quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily and give you more money to spend.

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool. It provides information and advice on proven quitting methods: the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit, and expert support from local Stop Smoking Services.

Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information or visit the Better Health Quit Smoking website.

Physical benefits to stopping smoking

Stopping smoking can significantly improve your health in ways you might not expect. Once you stop smoking, some of the benefits are immediate and some are longer term:

• After 20 minutes: Pulse rate starts to return to normal.
• After 8 hours: Oxygen levels are recovering and harmful carbon monoxide in the blood is reduced by half.
• After 48 hours: The body has flushed out all carbon monoxide, lungs start to clear out mucus and ability to taste and smell is improved.
• After 72 hours: Bronchial tubes begin to relax, breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase.
• After 2-12 weeks: Blood is pumping to the heart and muscles better because circulation has improved.
• After 3-9 months: Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%
• After 1 year: Risk of heart attack has halved compared to a smoker. And research suggests that people who have quit for a year are happier than those who continue to smoke.
• After 10 years: Risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
• After 15 years: Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked

Mental health benefits to stopping smoking

• Evidence shows that once people have got past the short-term withdrawal stage of quitting, they have reduced anxiety, depression and stress and increased positive mood compared with people who continue to smoke.
• For symptoms of anxiety and depression, stopping smoking is as effective as taking antidepressants. Just six weeks after quitting, people start feeling happier as well as healthier.

Financial benefits to stopping smoking

• On average, smokers in England can save £38 a week by quitting smoking. That’s  £167 per month and £2,000 per year from quitting smoking.