If you are a smoker, make plans to quit.

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and serious ill-health in Scotland.

Why does smoking cause ill health?

When you smoke, less oxygenated air reaches your lungs.  In conjunction with the stimulating effect of nicotine, this causes and increase in your heart rate and blood pressure.  Smoking also deposits tar in your lungs, which over time, destroys the fragile air sacs in the lungs.  This leads to respiratory problems, greater pressures on the heart and can also lead to clogged arteries and blood clots.

Other health problems thta can be caused by smoking include:

• Stroke
• Reduced Vision
• Mouth and throat cancer
• Heart Disease
• Emphysema and Bronchitis
• Lung Cancer
• Stomach Ulcers
• Bladder cancer
• Infertility
• Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Smoking in Glasgow and some areas of the West of Scotland is significantly higher than the national average, with many contributary factors to this.  Some key statistics regarding smoking in Scotland and Glasgow include:

• 13,000 Scots die each year from smoking related diseases.
• Within Greater Glasgow and Clyde 30% of people smoke, the highest rate in the country - in Glasgow alone the figure is 33.5%
• 34% of all deaths in 34 - 69 year olds are attributable to smoking
• 89% of all lung cancer deaths are due to smoking
• Roughly one third of all smokers want to quit
• The proportion of 15 year old boys in Scotland who are daily smokers is rising
• Nicotine Replacement Therapies (eg: patches, microtabs, gum, lozenges, nasal spray) or Buproprion (trade name Zyban) and Verenicline (trade name Champix) can double a smoker’s chances of stopping.

Stopping smoking requires planning and support. If you are ready to stop, here’s how to get started:

• Call Smoking Concerns on 0141 201 9825 to find out about your local support group
• Ask your doctor or starting fresh pharmacist if any of the proven drug treatments could suit you
• Get the support of your friends, colleagues and family
• Keep a smoking diary to identify the smoky situations in your day – make a plan for every one
• Plan to treat yourself with the money you will save
• Stock up on the product you are going to use, and read the instructions carefully
• Have Smokeline’s number handy – 0800 848484
• NHS online smoking cessation support www.canstopsmoking.com
• Stop smoking on your quit day …..good luck!

For more on Glasgow's stop smoking services visit www.nhsggc.org.uk/smokefreeservices