Warning to part-time and light smokers in the North East about health risks

North East charity Fresh is re-launching the ‘Don't Be The 1’ campaign, warning that half of all long-term smokers will die from smoking.

But with many smokers cutting down to ten or fewer cigarettes a day, or to hand rolling tobacco, Fresh is warning people not to ignore the substantial risks from smoking only a few cigarettes a day.

A survey by the charity found many North East smokers have cut down however, this is still not enough. Every year in the North East smoking still causes 5,416 deaths from a smoking-related disease.

The evidence shows just a few cigarettes raises your risks of heart disease very quickly. The risk of heart disease in men and women aged 35 to 39 years who smoke 1 to 4 cigarettes per day is nearly 3 times that of a non-smoker. Passive smoking is also a cause of heart disease in non-smokers.

Women aged between 35 and 49 years who smoke 1 to 4 cigarettes per day also have 5 times the risk of developing lung cancer, and men have 3 times the risk.

Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “In the North East we have seen the biggest fall in smoking in England over the last decade, and people who are still smoking are smoking less than they were.

“Cost and awareness of the health risks are both factors.  If you only smoke a few cigarettes a day, it must be tempting to hope the risks don't apply. However, the evidence is clear that even a few cigarettes a day can cause cancer and heart disease, and change lives forever.

“We are urging people to think about quitting for their family.  Cutting down can help people to quit, but taking the next step is vital.  We are urging people to ditch tobacco completely or if they aren't ready to quit nicotine, to switch to a safer way of getting it, like an electronic cigarette.”

Peterlee grandfather Wilfred Rowan Curry quit smoking after being told that he had a blockage in the artery of his left leg. The 71-year-old was told by his surgeon that more blockages could result in an amputation or stroke.

Wilfred said: “I started smoking when I finished school, there was never any information about cancer.

“At most I smoked about 20 to 25 cigarettes a day, but later in life, as the price was hiked up I’d cut back to about 10-a-day.

When I started getting a pain in my calf the doctor sent me to see a specialist. He told me I had a blockage in the artery of my left leg caused by smoking. In fact, he said that if I did not quit he might seriously think about not treating me.

I’m glad I’ve quit. Now I don’t feel like I have to worry anymore and I’ve got extra money in my pocket as well. The cravings only lasted about two days. At first I was feeling a bit hitchy, but I’ve got no regrets at all about quitting. I don’t miss smoking at all.”

There is lots of local support to give you a much better chance of quitting smoking and help manage your cravings.  Contact your local stop smoking service to get your quit attempt underway, or talk to your GP or pharmacist. All stop smoking services in the North East are also welcoming of people using their own electronic cigarettes to quit.

Tees - Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-On-Tees and Hartlepool

01642 383 819

Live Well Gateshead

0800 014 9092

Newcastle Stop Smoking Service

0191 269 1103

Smokefreelife County Durham

0800 772 0565

Darlington

0300 123 1044 (national quitline)

North Tyneside (for details of local sessions)

0191 643 7171

Northumberland Stop Smoking Service

01670 813 135

South Tyneside Change 4 Life

0191 424 7300

Sunderland Live Life Well

0800 107 0741