Smoking

Quitting smoking isn't easy, but when you see the drastic improvements to your life and health it is really motivating.

27% of adults in Caerphilly county borough smoke on a daily basis and unfortunately smoking rates are highest amongst 20 – 24 years olds.

Whatever your reason – if you’re a smoker who wants to quit or you know someone who would like to give up, this website is full of information and advice as well as tips and tricks about how to give up smoking for good!

 

Improve your health

  • Smoking kills 6,000 smokers in Wales each year. Giving up smoking increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life
  • Reduce your risk of illness, disability or death caused by cancer, heart disease and lung diseases.
  • Reduce your risk of gangrene or amputation caused by circulation problems.
  • Protect the health of the people you care about by not making them breathe your secondhand smoke.
  • Reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or ear infections.
  • Improve your fertility and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby.
  • Improve your breathing and general fitness.
  • Enjoy the taste of food more.

Click here to read The effects of smoking on the body (PDF, 85Kb)

 

Feel attractive and confident

  • Get rid of that stale tobacco smell from your hair, skin and clothes.
  • Look attractive with healthy, glowing skin, no tobacco stains on your teeth and fewer wrinkles.
  • Feel more confident in public places because you won't be polluting the air or making other people breathe your secondhand smoke.
  • Smoking is a big turn off to potential partners, so when you go smokefree, you might be surprised by the new attention you receive.
  • Have a fresh, attractive home without nicotine stains on the walls and reduce your risk of starting a house fire or burning your clothes

 

Advice on stopping smoking

Reasons to Quit

Write down why you want to give up.
Just imagine when you go smokefree, how much extra money will be in your pocket. It's amazing to think about how much money you have wasted over the years on smoking.

Our calculator will show you just how much money you could save in a year. Click here

Understand the problem

Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a powerful and addictive drug. This is why many people find it hard to quit smoking, it might take more than attempt to quit but keep trying!

Set a quit date

Decide on a date when you will stop smoking. New year's day is popular, and so is No Smoking Day (the second Wednesday in March).

Get professional help

Smokers who want to quit can contact the Smokers Helpline Wales (0800 169 0 169) for information about quitting. Also the Stop Smoking Wales service (0800 085 2219) can provide specially trained staff to offer guidance, advice, information and support on a one-to-one or group basis across Wales.

More information is available on the Stop Smoking Wales information page. Click here to find out more.

Think about nicotine replacement therapy

It can help if you ease the withdrawal symptoms with nicotine replacement therapy. Get advice from your GP or community pharmacist.

Involve family and friends

Ask your family and friends for support. If you live with someone else that smokes, it's easier to quit if you do it together.

Prepare yourself

Nicotine withdrawal may make you restless or irritable. The first few days may be difficult but people usually start to feel better after the third or fourth day.

Be clear about the benefits.

Stopping smoking has many benefits, lots of which happen within 48 hours of quitting. The longer you stop, the better you will feel.
Click here for more information on the Benefits of quitting (PDF, 13Kb).

Avoid temptation

In the first few days after you have quit, change your routine to avoid situations where you would usually smoke. For example If you are upset or under pressure, fight off the temptation to smoke by taking deep breaths or go for a walk. Remember that cravings only last for a few minutes.

Treat yourself

Plan a reward for the end of your first smoke-free day, week or month - perhaps by using the money you have saved.

Don’t give up giving up

Don’t worry if this attempt doesn't succeed. Many former smokers had to try several times before they gave up smoking for good. Even if you haven't managed it this time, you've probably learnt some things that will put you in a better position next time. One in four adults in Wales is an ex-smoker, so it can be done!

For a helpful booklet full of handy tips and a quit plan click here.

The myths

We all know that smoking is bad for us. But sometimes it is easier to believe the various myths and half-truths that surround smoking than to accept that it is time to quit. Click here for the truth about those myths (PDF, 1.8Mb)

 

Second Hand Smoke

Second-hand or passive smoking is dangerous to non-smokers, particularly young children.

Breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke can be harmful to your health. Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks in non-smokers. It can also reduce lung function; make respiratory problems worse; trigger asthma attacks; irritate eyes; and cause headaches, coughs, sore throats, dizziness and nausea. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.

The introduction of smoke-free legislation means that the risk of being exposed to other people’s tobacco smoke in public places is now greatly reduced. But many people still breathe in the tobacco smoke of family members and friends at home.

Parents who smoke should be aware that their children might become ill by breathing in tobacco smoke. Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of respiratory problems, asthma attacks, middle ear disease and cot death. Children of smokers are also more likely to take up smoking, because they will see smoking as normal and copy adult behaviour.