Smoking Facts

• Smoking is the greatest cause of premature death in the UK
• About 106,000 people die each year from a smoking-related illness
• The most common cause of smoking-related deaths are cancers, smoking-related lung disease and heart disease
• Smoking can potentially affect all the organs in your body, and exacerbate other medical problems
• About half of all smokers will die from a smoking-related disease
• The life expectancy of a smoker is, on average, 10 years less than a non-smoker

There are some groups of people who are particularly at risk. These include the following:

Pregnant Women and the Unborn Child
As well as all the risks to personal health, smoking can seriously harm your unborn baby being implicated in miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight.

Children and Babies
Smoking is harmful to young people around you, especially children and young babies who will be at increased risk of cot death, asthma, chronic lung disease (in later life) and, of course, smoking themselves. There is also evidence that small children exposed to smoking do less well in school, especially with reading and reasoning skills.

Your Family and Friends
Adults who are exposed to passive smoking are at increased risk of chronic lung disease and lung cancer.

The Good News

It is never too late to give up smoking. The health benefits are immediate and continue for the next 10-15 years.

Help is available if you want to stop smoking but find it difficult to do so. If you receive help and support when trying to stop smoking, you are 4 times more likely to successfully stop and stay smoke-free. If at first you do not succeed, keep trying, as motivated individuals are also more likely to succeed. You will also save money: what could you do with the money you have saved?

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Why is it so Hard to Stop Smoking?

Smoking is more than a habit, it is an addiction. The addictive component in the cigarette is nicotine. After a while, you become dependent on the nicotine as it makes you feel good when you take it. When you avoid smoking, you will suffer from cravings. Some medication, like nicotine replacement therapy and tablets, help reduce these cravings and help you to stop smoking. These medications are available on prescription if you seek help to stop smoking.

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