Fewer people in Cumbria are smoking and No Smoking day gives you the perfect opportunity to stop too.

Cumbria's smoking rate is dropping and latest figures show that less than 16% of the adult population continue to smoke. However this still represents about 60,000 adult smokers across the county, so there's a lot more to be done to help get the numbers down further.

Leslie Jones Stop Smoking.jpgNorth Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust offers support to inpatients to quit smoking but what can you do at home to kick the habit?

Many people try to quit smoking with willpower alone, but it's much easier to go smoke-free with the right help.

The key is not to give up giving up. Try different combinations until you find the one that works for you.

Leslie Jones, Public Health Consultant, at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said:

“Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. About 76,000 people die from smoking every year in the UK. Many more living with debilitating smoking-related illnesses. Smoking causes around 7 out of every 10 cases of lung cancer (70%). It is directly linked to an increase in the likelihood of heart disease, heart attack and stroke as well as a number of lung conditions such as COPD.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health, you will start moving better, breathe more easily and have more money to spend.

“If you quit smoking for 28 days and you’re five times more likely to quit for good.”

Quitting tips

You have made a great decision to give up smoking. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

  • List your reasons to quit.
  • Tell people you're quitting.
  • If you have tried to quit before, remember what worked.
  • Use stop smoking aids.
  • Have a plan if you are tempted to smoke.
  • List your smoking triggers and how to avoid them.
  • Keep cravings at bay by keeping busy.
  • Exercise away the urge.
  • Throw away all your cigarettes before you start. Remember, there is never "just 1 cigarette".

3 myths about vaping from the NHS better health website:

Myth: Vaping is just as harmful as smoking
Fact: Nicotine vaping is not risk-free, but it is substantially less harmful than smoking.

Myth: Nicotine is very harmful to health
Fact: Although nicotine is addictive, it is relatively harmless to health.

Myth: Vaping does not help people quit smoking
Fact: Nicotine vapes are one of the most effective stop smoking aids.