Join the Stoptober challenge and step towards a healthier life
When you stop smoking, good things start to happen, with almost immediate improvements to health - that's the message as part of an annual stop-smoking campaign.
This October, the Stoptober campaign is encouraging people who smoke to join the thousands of people across the county, and beyond, committing to quitting. Stopping smoking for 28 days means you're five times more likely to give up for good.
It's much easier to stop smoking with the right support and there are lots of options to choose from – including a Stop Smoking Service, offered by North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council. This provides 12 weeks of telephone support, with e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy sent straight to your door. It also offers face-to-face appointments in Corby and Wellingborough.
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Specialist Dental Services are also highlighting important oral health advice for users of tobacco to follow:
- Ensure regular visits to a dentist
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, with a fluoride toothpaste, ensuring that teeth are brushed last thing at night and a one other time. Aim to Clean in between the teeth once a day
- Spit toothpaste out and avoid rinsing with water or a mouthwash
- Smokers are more likely to suffer with gum disease, so ensure gums as well as teeth are being brushed
- If you are using a mouthwash to freshen the breath ensure it is alcohol free and is used at a completely different time to brushing
- Ensure any lumps, bumps and ulcers on the tongue, cheeks, gums or throat that stick around for longer than three weeks are checked by a health care professional, such as a dentist or a doctor
It is important to remember that, whilst vaping is a great way to assist stopping smoking, users should ensure these are flavourless. Flavoured vapes contain glycerine – a sweet liquid which impacts on oral health, similar to eating a packet of sweets.
Jasmine Little, from NHFT’s Specialist Dental Services, said: “One shoe doesn’t fit all when it comes to stopping smoking; different techniques work for different people. Switching to vaping is a good way to move to stopping smoking for good, but should not be used as a long-term replacement. We’d encourage anyone who needs support to stop for good to use the Stop Smoking Service; you can also access this service via pharmacies too. We hope Stoptober inspires smokers to make the step to a healthier lifestyle, and give up for good!”
Get support from the Stop Smoking Service at www.northnorthants.gov.uk/stop-smoking-drug-and-alcohol-support/stop-smoking (North Northamptonshire Council) or www.westnorthants.gov.uk/stop-smoking-drug-and-alcohol-support/stop-smoking (West Northamptonshire Council) depending where you live.
The sooner smokers quit, the sooner they will notice changes to their body and health. This is what happens when people stop smoking:
- After 20 minutes – Check your pulse rate, it will already be starting to return to normal
- After 8 hours – Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half
- After 48 hours – All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.
- After 72 hours – If you notice that breathing feels easier, it's because your bronchial tubes have started to relax. Also your energy will be increasing.
- After 2 to 12 weeks – Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved
- After 3 to 9 months – Any coughs, wheezing or breathing problems will be improving as your lung function increases by up to 10 per cent
- After 1 year – Great news! Your risk of heart attack will have halved compared with a smoker's.
- After 10 years – More great news! Your risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared with a smoker's.
People are encouraged to use the NHS Quit Smoking app which allows people to track progress, see how much they're saving, and get daily support. Download on Apple Store or Google Play.
Get more advice on how to stop smoking at www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking