Smoking causes one in four of all cancer deaths in England and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users, claiming around 80,000 lives a year in the UK.
While smoking rates have declined in recent years, 11.9% of the population – 6m people in the UK – still smoke. The latest statistics from NHS England show that in 2022-23 there were an estimated 408,700 hospital admissions due to smoking. This means that almost every minute someone is admitted to hospital because of smoking.
It is estimated that smoking costs the country £21.3bn a year in England. This includes an annual £18 billion loss to productivity, through smoking related lost earnings, unemployment, and early death, as well as costs to the NHS and social care of £3bn.
On average, you could save around £2,500 per year by quitting smoking; three-quarters of smokers wish they had never started.
Just a few statistics that should make smokers think twice about quitting on No Smoking Day.
When you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health:
- after just 8 hours harmful carbon monoxide levels in your blood will have reduced by half
- after 48 hours your senses of taste and smell are improving
- after two to 12 weeks circulation will have improved
- after three to nine months lung function increases by up to 10%
- after one year the risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker’s
- after 10 years the risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker’s
- after 15 years the risk of heart attack is now the same as someone who has never smoked.
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.
Where can I find help to stop smoking?
Getting free expert support from your local stop smoking service is proven to give you the best chance of quitting successfully. Some are now able to offer free vape starter kits too.
NHS Better Health offers a range of free quitting support including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Personal Quit Plan, 28-day email programme, local stop smoking service look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
Download the app here:
App Store https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhs-quit-smoking/id687298065
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doh.smokefree&pcampaignid=web_share
