One of the North East's leading respiratory doctors has urged people across the region stop smoking and "flush the poisons out of your body" at the start of 2023.
Dr Ruth Sharrock, an NHS consultant who leads on treating tobacco dependency across the North East and North Cumbria, is backing the campaign - "don't wait" - which has just launched to encourage people to quit the habit as soon as possible in 2023. Dr Sharrock warned that smoking is one of the key drivers behind cancer and other diseases - like heart disease - which disproportionately affect our region.
42% of households with a smoker in our region are in poverty, while analysis from the ASH charity has found the average smoker spends more than £2,400 on their habit. Even with sky-high energy bills, that could cover gas and electric for a year for many.
Dr Sharrock said: "Smoking causes so many serious diseases such as 16 types of cancer, heart disease and stroke. If you smoke you probably know it’s important to quit sooner rather than later– don’t wait another year.
“Smoking also makes you feel worse day to day, can leave you out of breath and cause a persistent cough and make you more vulnerable to chest infections. But the benefits of stopping begin almost immediately as you flush the poisons out of your body and your lungs and circulation start to recover.
"The benefits of quitting just get better as the weeks and months go by and you give yourself the best chance to be around with your family in the future."
The new campaign is aiming to remind smokers that quitting will lead to "better health, more money and less stress". Ailsa Rutter, from campaign group Fresh, added: "Thousands of people try to stop smoking in January and with this campaign we hope to give people a bit of extra motivation. We recommend people use a quit aid and get free local support to stop to make the process less stressful and more successful.
"Stopping smoking is one of the biggest gifts you can give to your loved ones and to yourself this New Year. There aren’t many things that can bring more money and better health. Quitting can make life a lot better for you and your family – feeling better, more money and less stress."
There is advice available at the North East's online "quit smoking hub" - FreshQuit.co.uk. New campaign films have also been broadcast - outlines the immediate benefits of stopping on the body over days and weeks, while another highlights the impact heartbreaking news about smoking-related diseases can have.
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