Quit and save – why giving up smoking will make you richer

Are you tired of seeing your finances go up in smoke? Did you know that quitting smoking could save you thousands of pounds a year?

To help you understand the financial benefits of giving up smoking, here is a simple guide to how much your habit is costing

The five a day smoker:

You may think smoking just five cigarettes a day isn’t making a dent in your finances.

However, the costs soon mount up.  Every month you’re spending £78 a month on cigarettes. And within a year you’ve spent £949.

The 10-a-day smoker

10-a day-smokers spent £156 a month on cigarettes. That’s enough for a romantic weekend getaway, a wardrobe upgrade, gym membership or a new bike.

In a year, smoking 10 cigarettes a day will cost a whopping £1898.

The 20-a-day smoker

Smoking 20-cigarettes a day is costing you a fortune – £3796 a year to be precise.  On a weekly basis, you’re wasting £72 on cigarettes and in a month, £312.

Within a year you’ll have spent £3796 on cigarettes. Enough for an exotic holiday abroad.

Smoking rollies

Smoking five rollies a day costs £480 a day. For those smoking 10 a day the cost rises to £960 a year.

And for smokers with a 20-a-day rollie habit, giving up could save them a very satisfying £1921 a year.

How I Quit Smoking – a Runner’s Story

From 25-a-day smoker to marathon runner – we hear how one man transformed his life by quitting and is now celebrating one-year of being smoke-free.

“I was known as the smoking runner”, says Stuart Hignell, remembering how at the end of every race he took part in, he’d light up a cigarette.

At the height of his addiction the 49-year-old postman from Llantwit Major was smoking 25 a day, leaving him struggling for breath at the end of each run.

He says he’d convinced himself he was ‘invincible’ after surviving a major health scare in his 30s which led to him having part of his stomach removed and despite doctors telling him his condition could have been caused by smoking, he carried on regardless .

Smoking had become an integral part of his daily routine. He remembers how, as a postman, he would stop for a smoke during his round, a habit he said he thought he’d never break: “There was a specific part of my round when I pulled up in my van to wait for a colleague. That used to be my smoking break and I’d automatically pat my pockets to check that my tobacco and papers were there.”

When he found himself back in hospital a year ago however, that all changed.

What Changed?

“I ended up staying in hospital for a week and all that time, as I was lying in my bed, I never once thought about getting up and going out for a cigarette. I was so surprised that I hadn’t craved a fag. It was like a switch had been thrown in my head.
“I decided then and there that if I could last a week with out a fag, that was it, I was in the right mindset to give up.”

After leaving hospital, Stuart visited his GP who gave him two weeks of nicotine patches and mist. By the second week, Stuart said he no longer felt the need to use the mist and describes the whole process of quitting as ‘simple’.

“I still have my tobacco and my papers and I’ve never felt the urge to use them,” he said. “They are in a box under my table and that’s where they are going to stay.”

Supportive Community

Despite being a smoker, Stuart had been running for three years, having rediscovered his joy of the sport which he’d enjoyed in his school days:

“I started running again three years ago. I had been nagging my brother about running with him again. At the end of each run though, I’d have a fag and i become known as the smoking runner. It was a bit of a stigma really.

“The running community was incredibly supportive when I gave up. I can push myself a lot harder now and I’m no longer fighting for breath at the end of a run.
“As a postman I walk 65 to 70 miles in an average week. Quitting smoking has definitely helped me to do that too,” he added.

The Benefits

Having given up smoking Stuart has never looked back.  The father of three is now urging his own children never to take up the habit. And his advice to others hoping to do the same is simple:

“Believe in yourself. It’s a big lifestyle change and you have to be fully committed to making that change. And it’s ok to relapse, just as long as you get straight back on track.”

Top 10 reasons why smoking is bad for your health

If you need motivation to quit smoking this October then read our top 10 reasons why smoking is bad for your health:

  1. Cancer

Smoking is responsible for 70% of all cases of lung cancer. It is also causes cancer in many other parts of the body including the mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, bladder, bowel, cervix, kidney, liver, stomach and pancreas. Researchers believe smoking causes 16 different types of cancer and also makes cancer treatment in those who continue to smoke, less effective.

  1. Heart health

If you smoke you are at a greatly increased risk of developing problems with your heart and blood circulation, such as coronary heart disease and stroke. Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-smokers.

Smoking damages the lining of the arteries leading to a build up of fatty material which damages the arteries. Meanwhile the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood forcing your heart to pump harder to supply the body with oxygen.  Your body also produces more adrenaline due to the nicotine in cigarettes, making your heart beat faster. Your blood is more likely to clot as a smoker which increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

  1. Fertility

Smoking affects the fertility levels of both men and women. In women it could make it more difficult to become pregnant and in men, smoking leads to reduced sperm count and impotence.

4.    Lungs

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer which is the greatest cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. More than four in five UK lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.  It is also responsible for a range of debilitating respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia and asthma.  Second hand smoke leads to deaths from asthma, lower respiratory infections and lung cancer, particularly in children exposed to smoke.

  1. Mental health

Nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain which is the chemical that triggers positive feelings. Smoking encourages the brain to switch off its own mechanism for making dopamine, leading the supply to decrease and encouraging people to smoke more. Nicotine addiction triggers changes in the brain which lead to withdrawal symptoms, including cravings and anxiety.  Smokers then light up again to relieve these symptoms, leading to a constant cycle of withdrawal relieved by a nicotine hit before the cravings begin again.

  1. Dementia

According to dementia experts, around 10% of cases of Alzheimer’s Disease in the UK could be linked to smoking.  Two of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular dementia are linked to problems with the vascular system which can be caused by smoking.  Smoking can lead to strokes or smaller bleeds in the brain which then result in dementia.

  1. Skin

is smoking bad for skinSmoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years. You’re three times more likely to develop wrinkles if you’re a smoker, particularly around your eyes and mouth. Many smokers also have a sallow yellow-grey complexion.

  1. Hair

Every time you light up a cigarette your hair is surrounded by a cloud of toxic fumes. This can lead to premature boldness and going grey. Because when you smoke, your hair is not supplied with enough nutrients or fresh oxygen, your hair can become dry and brittle.  Scientists believe that smoking may accelerate premature greying of the hair due to the toxins in the smoke that can harm hair follicles and damage hormones.

  1. Brain

Researchers have found that smoking does long term damage to the structure of the brain and that current and former smokers have a thinner cortex, the part of the brain that deals with memory and language, than non-smokers.  The cortex does thin with age, but researchers found that smoking accelerates that process, leading to more rapid mental decline.

  1. Mouth

The nicotine and tar in tobacco stain smokers’ teeth turning them yellow and eventually, after years of lighting up, brown. Smoking can also lead to gum disease as those who smoke are far more likely to produce bacterial plaque. The gums then don’t heal as smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. Every year thousands of people die from mouth cancer brought on by smoking and it is one of the main causes of the condition.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

How To Prepare To Quit Smoking

The clock is ticking for smokers planning to give up this October.  We asked ex-smokers for their top tips on how to prepare for the big day.

Set a date

Decide on a date when you will quit smoking for good and mark it on your calendar. It’s important to have a cut off point when you stub out your last cigarette and focus on quitting for good.  There may be a milestone date coming up – such as a significant birthday or the anniversary of an important event in your life. Alternatively use October, when smokers across the UK decide to give up, as your opportunity to quit.

Make it a team effort

Quitting smoking is a test of endurance that requires will power and support from those around you. You may think you can go it alone however in those dark moments when you’re craving a cigarette, you’ll need the support of loved ones to spur you on.  Telling them you’ve decided to quit smoking means they can be on hand to ensure you stay on track. And to give you a boost if you’re feeling low.

Record your reasons

The temptation to give in to cravings will be strong when you first give up smoking.  To combat those cravings and stay on the path to a smoke free life you will have to continuously remind yourself why you are giving up. Write down your reasons and carry the list in your pocket as a constant reminder. Improved health and a better bank balance are two of the top reasons to give up. Be specific and write down how much money you’ll save every month by quitting and the life threatening health conditions you could avoid by giving up.

Set goals

Motivation is key when it comes to quitting success.  Think of a way to reward yourself once you’ve finally kicked the habit. Saving up the money you’d normally spend on cigarettes to spend on a holiday or treat is a great way to celebrate your success.

Be NRT-ready

You won’t know what quit smoking method works best for you until you start trying. However it’s important to ensure you have a good supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products ready for when you give up.  There are some smokers who quit using will power alone, however research has shown that quitting using NRT is far more effective. See your doctor or pharmacist to find out more about what products are available and the one that best suits your lifestyle.  Have a supply ready and waiting for as soon as you’ve smoked your last cigarette.

Seek support

Luckily you don’t need to quit smoking alone. There is plenty of support out there and NHS Wales Help Me Quit advisors are on hand to help you find the support that suits you best – whether that’s group smoking cessation sessions or one to help from a local pharmacist

If you want to stop smoking Help Me Quit is run by NHS Wales and will help you to find the stop smoking service that best suits you. Contact them on 0800 085 2219 or visit www.helpmequit.wales.

New figures show rise in smokers switching to e-cigarettes in Wales

]E-cigarette use is rising across Wales and more tobacco smokers are quitting the habit, according to the latest YouGov survey by ASH Wales.

The figures reflect the growth in e-cigarette use across Great Britain, where nearly half as many people vape as smoke.

New data published by ASH shows that there are now an estimated 3.6 million vapers compared to 7.2 million smokers in Britain.  In Wales 7% of the adult population now vape, compared to 17% that smoke [1]. This compares to 5% of the population in 2018 when 19% of adults smoked.

There has been an increase too in the numbers of ex-smokers who now vape. The National Survey for Wales shows that in 2016/17 52% of e-cigarettes users also smoked cigarettes. This fell to 47% in 2017/18.

Across the UK the number of vapers who are ex-smokers reached 54.1% in 2019 with the main reason given for using e-cigarettes being to help them quit (31%), following by to prevent them from relapsing back to smoking (20%). Of those surveyed by ASH Wales, 74% of e-cigarette users cited health as their main reason for vaping and 57% of e-cigarette users said vaping had improved their quality of life.

Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH Wales said: “The rise in the numbers of ex-smokers who now vape in Wales shows that many smokers are using e-cigarettes to quit.

“Indeed, when coupled with behavioural support e-cigarettes have been shown to be one of the most effective ways to give up smoking, enabling thousands of smokers in Wales to break a habit that destroys lives.

“However, with more than double the amount of people in Wales smoking compared to vaping, we still face a major challenge when it comes to changing people’s behaviour and de-normalising what has become an entrenched habit in many of our most deprived communities. We know that 29% of smokers in Wales are yet to try an e-cigarette which shows many could be missing out on an opportunity to attempt quitting.”

Despite the increase in the number of people vaping the survey revealed that perceptions of the relative harm of e-cigarettes compared to tobacco cigarettes, have worsened. Now almost a third of people in Wales (27%) wrongly believe e-cigarettes are equally or more harmful than tobacco cigarettes compared to 24% in 2018.

Suzanne Cass said: “There is work to be done when it comes to raising awareness of the relative harm of e-cigarettes compared to tobacco cigarettes and addressing concerns about the safety of vaping.

“Evidence from Public Health England has shown that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco cigarettes and have also been proven to be a highly effective smoking cessation tool.”

Since the survey was carried out, reports of a possible link between e-cigarette use and deaths from lung disease in America have led some medical experts to warn of the dangers of vaping.  According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention many of those vapers affected had used products with liquids containing cannabinoid products.

Vapers, or those considering vaping, should be reassured that e-cigarettes are regulated in the UK in line with a set of European-wide rules by the medicines regulator, the MHRA. The MHRA also monitors adverse reactions through its yellow card system, which to date has not identified serious respiratory problems similar to that found in the US.

Meanwhile vapers in the UK are being urged to only ever purchase e-cigarettes from reputable suppliers.

[1] This figure is cited in the National Survey for Wales 2018/19

Cardiff Metropolitan University is set to go smokefree

At the start of the new academic year, Cardiff Metropolitan University announces its ambition to become a smokefree university within a year.

Today, the university, which hosts more than 10,000 students across two sites in the city, has launched plans to become a clean-air campus, creating a healthier environment for staff, students and visitors.

As one of the UK’s leading universities for practise focused studies, the plans will form part of its overarching health and well-being strategy, with the aim of becoming completely smokefree by 2020.

To support the new policy, tobacco products will no longer be sold on its campuses and more support on stop smoking services will be provided to students that want to quit.

Suzanne Cass, CEO of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) Wales, which supported Cardiff Met’s bid to become a smokefree university, congratulated the university on the success of the project and said she hoped other universities in Wales would follow suit.

“It is a great privilege to have worked on this project and we are delighted to see two years of hard work coming to fruition and the creation of a clean air campus that will bring huge benefits to both staff and students.

“Attitudes towards smoking in Wales are changing and the public are keen to see action taken to tackle smoking prevalence, including the introduction of smokefree spaces. We very much hope that Cardiff Metropolitan’s forward-thinking approach will be emulated by other universities across Wales as we believe action to de-normalise and reduce smoking should form a key part of every university’s health and well-being agenda.”

Pro-Vice Chancellor and Exec Dean of the School of Sport and Health Sciences Leigh Robinson, said:

“Our communities’ commitment to becoming smoke free by 2020 emphasises the vital role we all play in supporting a healthier environment for one another. We are delighted to be leading the way in creating a healthier environment for staff, students and visitors.
“I’d like to thank our staff and students for working towards this goal. Together, our commitment to becoming a healthier university will grow from strength to strength.”

Across Wales 22% of 16 to 24-year-olds smoke, compared to 17% of the overall adult population. Since the smoking ban in enclosed public spaces came into force in 2007, smoking prevalence among the public has fallen by 6%, and the largest fall in smoking prevalence in the UK since 2011 has been among 18 to 24-year-olds. Smoking costs the Welsh NHS £302 million a year.

According to ASH Wales’ latest YouGov survey there is strong support for additional tobacco control policies in Wales. Of those surveyed, 59% said they would support a ban on smoking in all town centres in Wales and 63% agreed smoking should be banned in the outdoor eating areas of cafes and restaurants. Nearly half (47%) of Welsh adults feel the government is not doing enough to reduce smoking prevalence in Wales, up from 39% in 2018.