PRODUCT WATCH ROUNDUP We’ve added new information to ASH Wales Product Watch about nicotine products that may be less familiar. Pouchless nicotine pods have a UK-facing retail listing: these small oral portions have no outer pouch and are not designed to melt. We’ve also added international examples of ultra-thin and semi-gel nicotine pouches, and updated our page on gels, creams, sprays and nasal inhalers. UK or Welsh availability has not been established for those international examples. These updates explain what the products are, what is verified and what remains uncertain. They do not establish how widely any product is used in Wales.
If you already have a health condition, stopping smoking still matters.
Smoking can make existing health problems worse and raise the risk of further illness. These pages focus on the connection between smoking and specific conditions, and where to find trusted help.
The current Wales burden: Public Health Wales estimates an average 3,845 smoking-attributable deaths and 17,195 smoking-attributable hospital admissions a year among adults aged 35+ in 2020–22. An estimated 10.7% of deaths in this age group were attributable to smoking. These are modelled attributable-burden estimates, not a cause recorded on every individual death certificate or hospital admission. Public Health Wales source ↗
Explore by condition
Heart disease
How smoking affects the heart and what changes when you stop.
Lung cancer
The link between smoking and lung cancer, plus support to stop.
These pages are about smoking, not diagnosis.
ASH Wales explains how smoking affects health and why stopping can help. For symptoms, diagnosis, treatment or urgent medical advice, use NHS services or speak to a healthcare professional.
Want help to stop smoking?
You can get free support in Wales. Our Quit Smoking hub explains the options and where to start.