HAMPSHIRE smokers are being encouraged to stub out the habit for good.
Councillor Patricia Stallard, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Health and Public Health, said: "There are estimated to be around 200,000 smokers in Hampshire. Giving up smoking is a difficult process but, giving up smoking will lead to improved financial, physical and health benefits including better sense of taste and smell and a reduced risk of chronic breathing problems, lung cancer and heart disease. It is not just the individual who benefits, the cost of smoking to society across Hampshire as a whole is around £302 million per year, including health and social care costs, loss of productivity in businesses and dealing with waste and fires caused by cigarettes."
During Stoptober, a 28 day national challenge to support the UK’s 8 million smokers to quit during October, 633 of Hampshire’s 200,000 smokers were supported to gave up smoking with the help of the County Council’s commissioned Quit4Life service.
Research shows that after eight hours without a cigarette, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal. After 24 hours carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and the lungs start to clear out any mucus and other smoking debris.
Those Hampshire residents who want help to stop smoking can get support from the County Council commissioned Quit4life service. For more information call 0845 6024663.