Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Smoking
The lowdown on smoking, your health and how to quit.
It’s easy for others to tell you that smoking is unhealthy and you should quit. Especially if they are smug non-smokers. No matter how much they nag you, nobody can force you to quit. Maybe you enjoy smoking or you might worry that you don’t have the will power to stop.
However, there’s no denying that smoking is bad for your health and that it burns a serious hole in your wallet.
Whether you’re ready to quit or not, read on to find out more about smoking and for the support organisations that can advise you on how to break the habit.
Benefits of stopping:
The health benefits start right away when you quit smoking:
- Within 20 minutes your circulation will improve.
- Within eight hours the carbon monoxide level in your blood will drop and the oxygen level will go up.
- Within a few days your sense of smell and taste will start to improve.
- You’ll start to feel fitter and will be able to play sport without getting breathless.
- Within two or three months your lung capacity will increase by 30%.
- Within one year the chances of having a heart attack drops by half and within two years the risk drops to almost the same as a non-smoker.
- Within five years the risk of smoking related cancers will be greatly reduced.
- You’ll smell better without smoke hanging around your hair, clothes and breath.
- You’ll not have to worry about damaging your health or your pocket!
- For information on smoking during pregnancy, check out the Pregnancy Section.
Contact the National Smokers’ Quitline on CallSave 1850 201 203 for confidential advice on quitting, a free information pack, and referral to local quit smoking services.
See the help section for supportive information and contacts details of support organisations.
