Somerset County Council urge people to 'give quitting a go' on National No Smoking Day
SCC is encouraging us to stub out tobacco this No Smoking Day with a new, free, interactive app for smartphones
Somerset County Council are urging more of us to try going 'smokefree' today - on National No Smoking Day.
They're doing it through the launch of a new, free, and interactive app for smartphones - which you can find out more about here: SmokeFreeLife Somerset.
Smoking is linked to numerous health problems such as heart disease, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) - it also has links to dementia too, with data from Alzheimer's Research showing only 1/3 of UK adults know what they can do to avoid developing the disease.
Not smoking is one of those prevention methods - notably against dementia, but particularly Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Giving up has numerous health benefits, not only reducing a person’s risk of developing dementia, but also heart disease, cancer and strokes.
Despite being notoriously difficult for some people, quitting smoking for at least six weeks is also proven to boost mental health and wellbeing by relieving stress, anxiety and depression.
Councillor Adam Dance, Lead Member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity at Somerset County Council, said: “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of ill health and premature deaths. So, to quit is one of the best things you can do to protect your health and live longer.
“You are far more likely to quit with expert support from our stop smoking services, who are on hand to support and empower you to quit and have helped thousands of people across Somerset to kick their habit over the years.
“I would like to encourage all smokers to get in touch with Smokefreelife Somerset and make this No Smoking Day their time to quit.
“The My Quit Route app makes it even easier to make that first step to quitting today. You can download it free to get started at www.healthysomerset.co.uk/smokefree/enable-me/digital-support-with-my-quit-route/.”
To support people in Somerset to quit, the Council’s stop smoking service, Smokefreelife Somerset, is available to provide free, expert support and guidance and has launched a free, interactive smartphone app – the My Quit Route app, a fully personalised, non-judgmental programme, accessible 24/7.
You can get SmokeFree support here.
The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store here.