Does smoking cause anxiety?

It’s difficult to imagine that smoking could actually be a direct cause of stress when so many people’s automatic response to a tense situation is to light up a cigarette. Can smoking cause anxiety? In this article we’ll attempt to answer that question.

Many people smoke to relieve stress and continue to do so for fear that if they give up, they will no longer be able to rely on that instant nicotine hit to calm them down.

Ironically however, smoking is a significant cause of stress in itself, with nicotine cravings causing a constant cycle of anxiety through the day that can only be relieved by smoking a cigarette.

It’s true that when you smoke a cigarette, you do feel a short-term sense of well-being as that welcome rush of nicotine floods into your system, reaching your brain within just ten seconds of you taking a drag on your cigarette.

However, this feeling soon gives way to withdrawal symptoms and cravings that can make you feel anxiety, jittery and tense.

The more you feed your addiction with nicotine the more intense these cravings will become.  Over time smoking leads to changes in your brain which intensify your need for nicotine.

These powerful physical urges for nicotine and the anxiety that kicks in when you can’t get hold it are stressful enough.

But consider also how expensive it is to fund this habit. If you’re a 20-a-day smoker, you’ll be spending on average £72 a week and £312 a month on cigarettes.  That’s a lot of money to have to find each month and could lead to you racking up debt or struggling to pay for other basic necessities such as food or energy bills – a significant source of stress.

Smoking also leads to health anxiety, with many smokers well aware of the harm they are causing their bodies, yet feeling like they are unable to stop. Cigarettes contains over 5,000 deadly chemicals, many of which cause cancer and it is the leading cause of premature death in Wales.  Around the world, smoking kills 50% of those that take it up and many long term smokers live with chronic lung conditions that significantly affect their quality of life.  Smokers live with that knowledge and the constant fear of what the future holds in terms of their health. It is also a risk factor for Covid-19 with smokers more likely to suffer severe symptoms if they catch the virus.

The good news for smokers, is that according to the NHS, quitting smoking will boost your mental health and well-being and relieve stress, anxiety and even depression.

If you rely on smoking to relieve stress, then the thought of quitting is very daunting but, try to focus on the huge long term benefits you will enjoy if you do give up –  no longer having to feed constant cravings for nicotine, spend a fortune on cigarettes or worry about your health.

It really is never too late to give up with the health benefits of quitting, kicking in within minutes of you stubbing out that last cigarettes.

Research has shown that you’re about three times more likely to quit for good if you do so using a combination of behavioural support and stop smoking medication so it’s really important to seek help.

NHS Wales Help Me Quit service provides free support and advice on how to find the quit smoking method that suits you best. You can also access help from your GP and local pharmacy.

There are many sources of stress in life that are beyond your control. You do however, have the ability to quit smoking and to significantly reduce your anxiety levels in the process.

Are smokers more at risk from Covid-19?

There has never been a more important time for you to stop smoking with growing evidence showing that if you smoke you are more likely to suffer severe symptoms of Covid-19.

The good news for smokers if that if they give up now, they will boost their body’s chances of recovering from the virus.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic thousands of smokers across Wales have made the decision to give up the habit. According to analysis by ASH and University College London an estimated one million smokers in the UK had quit within the first few months of the pandemic, including 33,000 Welsh smokers. Fears over the impact of the virus were a major driver for those quitting, with 41% surveyed in the UK citing Covid-19 as their main reason for giving up.

These quitters had good reason to be concerned about the impact of the virus. We know that smokers who contract Covid-19 suffer more severe symptoms. This is because smokers already have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking damaging the cells protecting their nose and upper and lower airways.

Recently Data from the COVID Symptom Study app involving more than 3 million people from the UK, Sweden and US, found that  current smokers were 14% more likely to develop the three classic symptoms of coronavirus infection – fever, persistent cough and shortness of breath – than non-smokers.

Smokers were also 29% more likely to report more than five symptoms associated with COVID-19 and 50% more likely to report more than 10, including loss of smell, skipping meals, tiredness, diarrhoea, confusion or muscle pain. In addition, smokers were more than twice as likely as non-smokers to end up in hospital with severe symptoms of COVID-19 having tested positive for the disease.

Smoking is also a leading cause of cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer conditions that put patients are higher risk if they catch the virus.

Giving up smoking now really is the best decision you can make to protect your health and the health of your family who are more at risk from being exposed to second hand smoke

When you give up smoking, the body begins to repair itself, your lung health improves and your immune system is strengthened giving you a better chance of recovering from the virus.

It’s never too late to quit and even life long heavy smokers can benefit from giving up.  For many smokers Covid-19 has been a wake-up call and we would urge anyone who wants to quit to call the NHS Wales Help Me Quit helpline.

Help Me Quit is a free smoking cessation service run by NHS Wales and throughout the pandemic it has been providing support to smokers who want to give up through its helpline. The Help Me Quit advisors will talk you through the different options there are for giving up and help you to find the one that suits you best.

Research has shown that you’re far more likely to quit for good if you seek support so pick up the phone and find out what help is available.

Survey of adults with lung conditions reveals 52% have tried to quit smoking during pandemic

ASH Wales has welcomed the news that in a survey by Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales, more than half of respondents said they had tried to quit smoking since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The charity surveyed 344 adults living in Wales, all of whom have an existing lung condition. The majority, 52%, said they had tried to quit smoking since the start of the pandemic – with 13% said they have successfully quit.

ASH Wales and Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales have campaigned to raise awareness of the increased risk faced by smokers from the Covid-19 pandemic – particularly those with lung conditions.

According to medical experts, Smokers are more at risk from Covid-19 because they have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking, which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. Many also have existing lung and heart conditions due to smoking, and those also increase their risk from the virus.

Covid-19 has led to the biggest surge in smokers quitting in Wales since the 2007 smoking ban – with 33,000 Welsh smokers having given up since the pandemic hit according to analysis by ASH and University College London.

Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH Wales, said: “We welcome the news that so many people with existing lung conditions have attempted to quit smoking since the start of the pandemic.

“The risks posed by Covid-19 have proven a wake-up call for many smokers, prompting hundreds to finally quit the habit. It is vitally important to tackle the stubbornly high smoking prevalence in Wales and we are calling for more targeted stop smoking services to help reach those that need it most.”

According to the research by Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales , 22% of those who tried to quit sought NHS support, with the majority, 48% trying to quit on their own.

Research has shown that those who quit using a combination of stop smoking medication and behavioural support are three times more likely to give up for good.

Ms Cass added: “We know that quitting smoking using will power alone is very challenging and often results in smokers falling off the wagon.
“It’s really important for smokers to know that there is free support available to them that will make the process so much easier.”

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales, said:

“It’s great to see that more and more smokers are becoming  aware of the negative effects it has on their health and are trying to quit.

“Those trying to quit will find a variety of help and support available to aid them on their journey. For example, NHS Wales’ fantastic Help Me Quit service – which provides tailored support and advice.

“There has never been a better time to quit smoking and doing so will help keep you and your loved ones safe. Please do give it a go and seek out support if you need it.”

33,000 Welsh smokers quit the habit since start of Covid-19 pandemic

33,000 Welsh smokers quit the habit since start of Covid-19 pandemic

Covid-19 has led to the biggest surge in smokers quitting in Wales since the 2007 smoking ban – with 33,000 Welsh smokers having given up since the pandemic hit.

According to analysis by ASH and University College London an estimated one million smokers in the UK have quit since the start of the outbreak, including 33,000 Welsh smokers.

Fears over the impact of the virus have been a major driver for those quitting, with 41% surveyed in the UK citing Covid-19 as their main reason for giving up.

Smokers are more at risk from Covid-19 because they have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking, which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. Many have existing lung and heart conditions caused by smoking that increase their risk from the virus.

ASH Wales joined other leading charities in welcoming the news and said the huge increase in smokers wanting to quit the habit meant it was more important than ever for Welsh Government to invest in stop smoking services and awareness campaigns to tackle smoking prevalence.  The latest figures from the National Survey for Wales had revealed that before the start of the pandemic, smoking prevalence in Wales rose to 18%, from 17% the previous year.

Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH Wales, said: “What we’ve seen during the pandemic is a year’s worth of quitting figures in just four months.

“We know that smokers are at significantly higher risk from the Covid-19 virus, and we welcome the news that so many are quitting as a result.

“This presents an opportunity to tackle the stubbornly high smoking prevalence in Wales and it is crucially important that those smokers that do want to give up can access the smoking cessation support they need both to quit and to remain smoke-free.

“There is also a strong need to reach those smokers in deprived areas where smoking prevalence is highest, and health inequalities are greatest, with targeted community-based cessation support.

“We are calling for more funding for stop smoking services and awareness campaigns and to introduce tougher tobacco control policies and more smoke-free spaces that will de-normalise smoking and encourage more smokers to quit the habit. “

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Wales, also welcomed the figures and called for a new strategy to tackle smoking prevalence in Wales:

“Smoking is still the biggest preventative cause of lung diseases such as COPD and lung cancer, so unless we tackle smoking, lives will continue to be affected by these conditions.

The news that 33,000 smokers in Wales have quit during the pandemic is deeply encouraging but to continue this progress, we need a new smoking and tobacco strategy with a target for a smoke-free nation by 2030.”

Last year ASH Wales joined forces with other leading charities to call on Welsh Government to set an endgame target to eradicate smoking in Wales. Currently there is a target to reduce smoking to 5% of the population in England by 2030 and to make Scotland smoke-free by 2034.

According to the latest ASH Wales YouGov survey, 68% of adults in Wales would support the setting of an endgame target to reduce smoking in Wales.

Andy Glyde, Public Affairs Manager for Cancer Research UK in Wales said:

“Smoking accounts for 3,000 cases of cancer each year in Wales and remains the most preventable cause of the disease. We have been calling for the Welsh Government to adopt a new target for a smoke-free Wales, where smoking rates drop to just 5% by 2030.

“To achieve this we need to see progress speed up, which will include more resources for smoking cessation services like Help Me Quit so it can support more smokers across Wales.”

Adam Fletcher Head of British Heart Foundation Cymru said: “Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and to protect the health of your heart. We want to see a clear commitment in Wales for a smoke-free target date of 2030 or earlier to ensure investment and action is taken to reduce smoking prevalence below 5%.

“Further investment in smoking cessation services and tobacco control policies is likely to be highly cost-effective for improving people’s health in Wales and reducing the burden of preventable disease on the NHS.”

Welsh Government proposals could see smoking banned outside pubs, cafes and restaurants

Smoking could be banned outsides pubs, cafes and restaurants, if new Welsh Government proposals get the go-ahead.

ASH Wales has welcomed the plans which would see tough new anti-smoking laws extended to the outdoor seating areas of pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants to protect non-smokers from the effects of second hand smoke. The move follows concerns that smoking and exposure to second hand smoke, puts people at higher risk of suffering more severe symptoms if they catch Covid-19.

The ban on smoking in the outdoor seating areas of pubs, cafes and restaurants could come into force during the next Senedd term if the proposals are given the go-ahead.

New legislation is being planned to come into force shortly and will ban smoking in the grounds of  hospitals and schools and in playgrounds under the the Public Health (Wales) Act in a bid to protect the public from second hand smoke and de-normalise smoking in the eyes of young people.

Research by ASH Wales has shown there is strong public support for the introduction of tougher measures to curb smoking in Wales. Its research has shown that 63% of adults support a smoking ban in the outdoor seating areas of restaurants and cafes and over half (59%) support a ban on smoking in town centres.

ASH Wales’ latest YouGov survey showed that 68% of people in Wales would support the setting of an endgame target to reduce smoking to less than 5% of the population by 2030.

Currently in Wales 17% of adults smoke, an estimated 440,000 adults, and 45% of smokers tried to quit last year.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said:

“Our Tobacco Control Delivery Plan for Wales sets a clear vision for a smoke-free society in Wales in which the harm from tobacco is eradicated.

“We have begun the process of setting our priorities for post-2020 to further reduce smoking rates to achieve our aim of a smoke-free Wales and I remain committed to making more of Wales’ public spaces smoke-free.”

Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH Wales, said: “In Wales, where 83% of the population don’t smoke, it is crucially important that we introduce measures both to protect non-smokers, but also to de-normalise this devastating addiction and encourage smokers to seek help to quit.

“As lockdown restrictions are lifted and customers, including families with young children, return to the outdoor areas of pubs, cafes and restaurants, it is more important than ever to ensure that staff and customers are protected from breathing in second hand smoke which we know carries significant health risks.”

Keir Lewis professor of respiratory medicine at Swansea University, said he welcomed the proposals and explained the risk of smoking in enclosed outdoor seating areas: ” We know there is a direct risk from inhaling second-hand smoke due to  the small particulate matter going into the lungs and making people more likely to suffer from respiratory symptoms and narrowing of their airways.

“Moreover, the closer you are standing to someone, the higher the exposure to these fumes and molecules and the higher this risk. This risk is especially highest for those working in the hospitality industry who are exposed to second hand smoke on a daily basis because the effects are cumulative, even if they are outside.

“Theoretically there is also an increased risk of smokers passing on Covid-19 because they cough more often and when people cough, we know the droplets spread further than two metres. There is also the risk that those exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to cough and spread any of their droplets further.

“During these uncertain times, anything we can do in terms of reducing discomfort and risk to others and ourselves, without any harm to others- is a really good thing.”

Smokers are more at risk from Covid-19 because they have weakened lung defences as a results of smoking, which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. Many have existing lung and heart conditions caused by smoking that increase their risk from the virus. They also have more regular hand to mouth contact, giving more chances for picking up the virus.

Data from the COVID Symptom Study app involving more than 3 million people from the UK, Sweden and the US found that current smokers were 14% more likely to develop the three classic symptoms of Covid-19 infection – fever, persistent cough and shortness of breath – than non-smokers.

Smokers were also 29% more likely to report more than five symptoms associated with Covid-19 and 50% more likely to report more than 10, including loss of smell, skipping meals, tiredness, diarrhoea, confusion and muscle pain. In addition, smokers were more than twice as likely as non-smokers to end up in hospital with severe symptoms of Covid-19 having tested positive for the disease.

How I quit smoking during lockdown – Barry’s Story

Barry, from Swansea, planned to stop smoking once he retired earlier this year. What he didn’t anticipate was having to quit as the country saw itself transition into lockdown. Thankfully with support from NHS Wales Help Me Quit, he was finally able to conquer a 47 year addiction.  

I started smoking when I was 9 years old. I was the youngest in a group of friends who had already started smoking so peer pressure was a big part of it. My father and aunts and uncles also smoked so it seemed like the grown up thing to do. I began smoking more regularly when I was 14.

I decided to quit as I wanted to take early retirement and this would save about £100 per month. A friend I knew from the smoking shelter at work had a heart attack and died a day after I was talking with him and I was certain I didn’t want to go the same way.

I tried giving up initially 2 days after retiring but wasn’t ready. On the 29th March lockdown had started but I finally felt ready, so I smoked all the tobacco I had left and decided that was it.

Wales' NHS Stop Smoking Service - Help Me Quit

I had been advised not to go out so it was difficult. In the first 8 weeks I put on the best part of a stone which worried doctors. I have now stabilised my weight and have begun going out on more walks. I found the help of Help Me Quit invaluable. Even during lockdown they arranged for 12 weeks of patches for me and I had weekly phone calls which were helpful and confidence boosting.

I have to admit I still miss smoking but I know I’m doing the right thing. My advice to anyone wanting to quit is to do so as soon as you are ready, the younger the better, as the health impacts creep up on you. My other tip is to save the money you would have used for cigarettes in a jar, and spend it on something meaningful for YOU, no-one else. I intend to have a great holiday next year with the money I’ve saved from stopping smoking.

Barry is 56 and worked as a civil servant for 35 years alongside a number of other jobs. He’s married with 2 grown up sons and enjoys travelling, football, swimming, reading, puzzles, gardening, walking, cinema and eating out as well as spending as much time as possible with his family.