This Stoptober, smokers in
England are being encouraged to put their lungs first, strengthen
their immune system and breathe easier ahead of flu season by
joining more than 2 million smokers who have made a quit attempt
since 2012 with the annual campaign.
Smoking damages the lungs and airways and harms the immune
system, leaving us more vulnerable to infections, such as flu.
Smokers generally have an increased risk of contracting
respiratory infections and experiencing more severe symptoms.
Stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including
for people with an existing smoking-related disease.
Smoking prevalence among
adults in England is at a record low of 13.9%. New data from
the UCL Smoking Toolkit Study show that in England in 2020 there
has been an increase of nearly a quarter (22%) in quit attempts
compared to 2019 and an increase of almost two-thirds in the
quitting success rate from 14% to 23%, the highest since at least
2007.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has calculated that
more than a million people in the UK stopped smoking during the
coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
, Public Health Minister said:
It has never been more important to take care of ourselves, and
quitting smoking is a great way to start.
With smoking rates already at an all-time low and 2020 seeing
more people stopping than ever, I urge all smokers to join in
Stoptober to improve their health and help England become a
smoke-free society by 2030.
Scott Crosby, Tobacco Control Programme Manager at Public Health
England, said:
2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us and has
reminded us how important our health is.
We are pleased to see that quitting rates have been extremely
high so far this year and Stoptober is back to help support
England’s remaining smokers to join in the national quit
attempt.
It is never too late to quit. Even if you have an existing
smoking-related condition, stopping smoking brings immediate
health benefits.
We know that smoking damages the lungs and weakens the immune
system and so now, ahead of flu season, is an ideal time to put
your lung health first.
Leading UK health organisations including ASH, British Lung
Foundation (BLF),
British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Cancer Research UK are
joining in the call to get smokers in England to give quitting a
go this Stoptober.
Professor Jamie Brown, Director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol
Research Group and co-author of a living rapid evidence review on
smoking and COVID-19, said:
Evidence shows that many more smokers are trying to quit in
2020 and the highest numbers are succeeding since at least
2007.
While the evidence on COVID-19 outcomes for smokers is still
developing and remains uncertain, what is clear is that
stopping smoking brings rapid improvements in respiratory and
cardiovascular health.
Quitting now will not only benefit people’s individual health
and help improve their lung health ahead of flu season, but it
will also help to reduce the demands on the healthcare system
in these difficult times.
Stoptober provides the information and support people need to
quit smoking for 28 days, based on research that if a smoker can
make it to 28 days smokefree, they are 5 times more likely to
quit for good.
This year, Stoptober is offering a range of free support tools
for those looking to quit, including digital services that are
easily accessible for those looking for online support. These
tools include the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot and
online communities, SMS and daily emails. There is
also a Personal Quit Plan that helps people find a combination of
stop smoking support that’s right for them, with options
including expert support from local Stop Smoking Services, stop
smoking aids and digital tools.
Search ‘Stoptober’ now for a full range of quitting support
options.
