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Cheshire and Merseyside
Stoptober quitters encouraged to "Keep going!"
PEOPLE across Cheshire and Merseyside
joined tens of thousands of people in the UK choosing to turn their back on
cigarettes in October, in the mass 28 day stop smoking challenge, Stoptober.
Research shows that stopping smoking for 28 days can extend your life by up to 1
week if you remain smokefree.
The new ex-smokers across Cheshire and Merseyside are celebrating their 1st
steps towards a healthier, smokefree life and are being encouraged by experts to
keep going.
The average smoker has 13 cigarettes a day, which equates to 364 cigarettes
every 4 weeks. Stoptober would have saved them £141 each over four weeks and
if they remain smokefree, they could save £1,696 in a year.
Eileen O’Meara, Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Public Health
Executive Board and Director of Public Health and Public Protection, Halton
Borough Council said:- “Well done to everyone who has successfully taken
part in Stoptober this year in Cheshire and Merseyside. We know it can be hard.
If you missed Stoptober or found it difficult to stay smokefree in October, it’s
never too late to start your own 28 day quit attempt.
Although Stoptober has ended there is still a wide range of support available.
Our local stop smoking services provide free advice and support and our advisers
are available throughout the year. Research shows that by using local stop
smoking services you are 4 times more likely to quit than going it alone, so
please get in touch for support.”
Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of Healthier Futures, a social enterprise
that helps people in Cheshire and Merseyside to live longer, healthier, happier
lives said:- “Well done to everyone who has successfully stopped smoking
this Stoptober. As well as saving money, everyone that managed to stay smokefree
will already be experiencing significant physical improvements, including a
better sense of smell and taste and more energy. Longer term, these quitters
will reduce their risk of heart disease and lung cancer as well as protecting
others from their 2nd hand smoke.
Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health today. If
you’ve successfully managed to stay smokefree for 28 days, keep going for a
healthier and wealthier future for you and your family.”
It is not too late to start your own 28 day challenge; contact your local stop
smoking service for free support and advice today.
You can find your local
service by visiting:-
NHS.UK/SmokeFree.
Let us know if you have managed to stop smoking and what helped
you by emailing our newsroom via:-
News24@SouthportReporter.com. |
