Stop smoking and you’ll be 32 per cent less likely to develop vascular dementia, claim scientists

The latest report from a team of Korean scientists linking smoking to an increased risk of developing dementia makes alarming reading.
According to the researchers from Seoul National University smokers have a 20 per cent greater risk of developing dementia in later life than non-smokers.

The study followed the lives of 46,140 men aged over 60 for 11 years and found that the non-smokers among them had a 19 per cent lower risk of suffering dementia and a 29 per cent lower chance of developing vascular dementia.

However, the report, which was published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, also highlights the enormous benefits of quitting smoking and offers new hope to those planning to kick the habit.
While it highlights the risk of developing dementia it also shows that stopping smoking can significantly lower that risk, even for long term smokers.

The scientists found that those who smoked but recently quit had a 14 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s in later life.  Quitters also had a 32 per cent reduced chance of developing vascular dementia.

As quoted in the Sun newspaper, Dr Sang Min Park of Seoul National University in Korea, said: “Smoking cessation was clearly linked with a reduced dementia risk in the long term, indicating that smokers should be encouraged to quit in order to benefit from this increased risk.”

The links between smoking and the risk of developing dementia are well established. The World Alzheimer’s Report 2014 looked at the findings from 14 studies and found a statistically significant increased risk of dementia in current smokers compared to those who have never smoked. Meanwhile the 2017 Lancet Commission on dementia risk listed smoking as one of the nine modifiable risk factors behind the condition. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, other reviews have estimated that smoking carries with it a 30 to 50 per cent increased risk of developing dementia.

If you are a smoker and would like to quit, ASH Wales offers great tips on how to get started.  Visit the ASH Wales website www.ash.wales to get friendly advice from other quitters as well as daily tips and motivation.  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 0808 278 6119 or visit www.helpmequit.wales

ASH Wales Welcomes MP’s Calls for E-Cigarettes to be Embraced as a Cessation Tool

The Westminster Select Committee report published today (17/08/2016) states the UK “Government is missing an opportunity with e-cigarettes” to help smokers quit.

The report says there is clear evidence e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than conventional cigarettes and should not be treated in the same way.

It calls for an improved process to speed up the licensing of e-cigarettes as medicines which could support the switch from smoking to vaping for thousands of would-be quitters.

ASH Wales Chief Executive, Suzanne Cass, said: “We hope Welsh Government and key policy makers will take note of these findings. It is essential that smokers are given access to the full range of quit smoking products and that health care professionals are fully informed about the harms and benefits of using an e-cigarette.

“We must do all we can to ensure smokers are made aware of the evidence that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than cigarettes and are a viable and less risky alternative to smoking. The licencing of e-cigarettes could help inform public opinion and make it easier for medical professionals to be able to recommend the use of this product and significantly help those on low incomes and with high levels of addiction.”

The report also states that concerns about the risk of e-cigarettes potentially providing a ‘gateway’ into conventional smoking have not materialised to any significant degree. Similarly, the risk of the variety and type of flavours being attractive to young non-smokers, who would be drawn into e-cigarette use, also appears to be negligible.

However, ASH has some concerns over calls in the report for a review of the advertising restrictions which would potentially allow the tobacco companies to place adverts for e-cigarettes inside cigarette packs. ASH believes the control of any such advertising should be created by public health professionals rather than the tobacco industry.

George Butterworth, from Cancer Research UK, said any changes to current e-cigarette regulations “should be aimed at helping smokers to quit whilst preventing young people from starting to use e-cigarettes”.

A recent study in Wales, published in the BMJ, showed that the experimentation with e-cigarettes amongst young people is on the increase, however regular use remains low. The report also found the vast majority of weekly smokers who had tried tobacco and e-cigarettes reported they tried tobacco before using an e-cigarette.

ENDS

Notes for editors

References:

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news-parliament-2017/e-cigarettes-report-publication-17-19/

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/2/e012784

Swansea’s Langland Bay Goes Smokefree in Rolling Programme to Improve Beaches

One of Swansea’s most visited coastal bays has become Wales’ third smokefree beach.

Langland Bay, a Blue Flag and Seaside Awards-winning site, will be the second beach in Swansea to have a voluntary smoking ban in place. Swansea Council launched a successful pilot ban at Caswell Bay in 2016, which resulted in a reduction in litter levels across the area,

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world and can take up to 12 years to decompose as they are made from plastic fibres. Toxins from tobacco residue in the butts pollutes waterways and poses a danger to animals who often mistake them for food.

Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have some of the highest smoking rates in Wales. On average 19% Welsh adults smoke, however, in Swansea this is 20% and neighbouring Neath Port Talbot has the highest rate in the country at 24%.

Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Care, Health and Ageing Well, said: “The launch of a smokefree beach at Caswell Bay has been a great success.

“There has been a noticeable reduction in cigarette litter at the beach which tells us that those visiting the beach are getting on board with the health campaign, and the beach environment has improved.

“The aim is to encourage adults not to light-up at the beach because of the damage it does to health and the potential bad habits it might encourage children to get involved.

“We don’t have powers to ban smoking at beaches. This is a voluntary initiative where we are asking the public to support it.

“We now feel we are able to look at rolling out smokefree beaches at other locations and Langland Bay is a good place to start.”

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “Beaches should be a clean, smokefree place for everyone to play, take part in sport and enjoy, so moving smoking away from our beaches is a step in the right direction.

“We surveyed 125 school children on Swansea Bay beach last week and 88% said it makes them sad to have adults smoking near them, and worryingly 88% also said they thought smoking was common”

“Shockingly almost half of long-term smokers become addicted before leaving high school and this is why it is so important we protect children from second-hand smoke and ensure they see less people smoking.”

Last week Swansea Bay beach played host to Ospreys in the Community and 350 primary school children who helped launch a Smokefree Sport initiative, supported by tobacco control charity ASH Wales.

Ospreys First Welsh Sports Team to Back Smokefree Sports Campaign

Ospreys in the Community have become the first team in Wales to throw their weight behind a national smokefree sports campaign.

The ASH Wales campaign aims to promote no smoking at sports events and will be launched in front of hundreds of school children at the Swansea Bay Beach Tag Festival today (26th June).

The majority of Welsh stadiums are already smokefree zones but many grounds and fields where children train and play have yet to follow suit. The youth sports day is the first major event in Wales to support the smokefree sports initiative.

Ospreys in the Community will be working with tobacco control campaign charity ASH Wales to encourage regional clubs to adopt a smokefree policy to protect young players from the influence of smokers.

More than 600 local primary children are expected to attend the annual festival which is designed to promote healthier lifestyles through outdoor activity and playing sport.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “Research shows young people are highly influenced by others smoking around them. Children with a parent who smokes are 70% more likely to take up the habit and shockingly almost half of long-term smokers begin smoking before leaving high school. We need to do everything we can to ensure that children see less smoke in the world around them and do not take up this deadly habit.”

Clive Oliver, Schools and Clubs Community Officer from Ospreys in the Community, said: “Tobacco and sport just don’t mix. Ospreys in the Community aims to harness social good and empower positive life choices. There is no doubt going smokefree is one of the healthiest messages a sporting club can share with its community.”

“Reducing exposure to smoking amongst young people is the key to reducing uptake. With over 600 children in attendance at the Ospreys beach rugby festival, it’s a prime opportunity for young people to be supported not to smoke and encourage further smokefree sports environments across Wales.”

Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have some of the highest smoking rates in Wales. On average 19% Welsh adults smoke, however, in Swansea this is 20% and neighbouring Neath Port Talbot has the highest rate in the country at 24%.

Kimberley Martin, Campaign Co-ordinator at ASH Wales said: “Outdoor smokefree areas make smoking less visible and less socially acceptable whilst providing a healthy family-friendly environment. Adopting a smokefree policy is about making children’s wellbeing a priority and promoting healthy choices. We would like more sports clubs across Wales to become smokefree and to follow the lead of Ospreys Community Rugby.”

Swansea has already adopted some progressive smoking policies, declaring Caswell Bay a smokefree zone in 2016, one of only two beaches in the UK to have a voluntary smoking ban in place.

To coincide with the event, ASH Wales are running a poster competition for primary school children with the top prize being a signed rugby ball courtesy of the Ospreys. For more information, head to twitter.com/ASHWalesCymru

Number of Adult Smokers in Wales Fails to Fall

New statistics, released by Welsh Government, show the number of smokers in Wales has failed to decrease with a fifth of all adults still smoking.

The National Survey for Wales, an annual survey which looks at a variety of lifestyle and well-being issues, questioned 11,000 people from across the country.

  • 19% of adults reported they currently smoke
  • Smoking is more common for men
  • Smoking is more common in those in deprived households
  • Smoking is less common among people aged over 75

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of tobacco control charity ASH Wales, said: “A significant amount of work is being done to reduce smoking rates including the creation of a revised delivery plan for Wales, a ‘new look’ smoking cessation service Help Me Quit and the introduction of more measures to protect children through the Public Health Act. However, it is quite clear there needs to be additional action to help people quit and to stop children taking up this deadly habit.

“Two thirds of all smokers would like to quit and around 40% of smokers try to give up every year. We need to make sure those who want to quit have the right support for them – whether that’s through their GP, the local pharmacy, using an e-cigarette or through the dedicated support service Help Me Quit.”

Disappointingly the number of people using an e-cigarette remained static at 7%. Evidence has shown that e-cigarettes can help people cut down or stop smoking.

Andy Glyde, Public Affairs Manager (Wales) at Cancer Research, said: “Smoking is a ‘deadly habit’ and causes at least 14 different type of cancer. It’s shocking that 3,000 cases of cancer a year in Wales are caused by tobacco.

“Far too many people in Wales are still smoking and much more needs to be done to help them quit and to reduce deaths from smoking related cancers. We know that NHS stop smoking services are the most effective way of helping people to quit smoking.

“It’s vital the Welsh Government takes forward its promises in last year’s Tobacco Control Action Plan, to invest in and promote these services.”

A full report about health-related lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, diet, obesity and exercise) was released on Wednesday 27th June, and can be seen here.

Action to Stamp Out Illegal Tobacco on World No Tobacco Day

Sniffer dogs and Trading Standards officers will be on the streets of Port Talbot today (Thursday 31st May) asking the public to tell them what they know about the sale of illegal tobacco in their communities.

The roadshow, outside Port Talbot’s Civic Centre, is part of an international day of action to mark World No Tobacco Day and follows a report which showed the illegal tobacco market makes up 15% of all tobacco sales in Wales – the highest in the UK.

These cheap products make it easier for children to start smoking as it is sold at pocket money prices by criminals who don’t care about age restriction laws.

Neath Port Talbot’s smoking rate stands at 24%, the highest in Wales, and 5% higher than the national average of 19%.

Hosted by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, members of the public will have the opportunity to meet sniffer dogs, Trading Standards officers and the Police to discuss and report illegal tobacco in their community.

Cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco are classed as illegal if they’ve either been smuggled into the country, bought abroad as ‘duty free’ and avoided UK taxes, or are counterfeit products made to look like big name brands.

The ‘illicit’ tobacco trade, as it is also known, is linked to serious organised crime at a local and national level and is related to other crimes including money laundering, modern slavery and child exploitation.

The first roadshow is taking place outside Port Talbot’s Civic Centre a second event is being held at Angel Square, Neath on Friday (1st June) from 10.30am.

Attending the roadshows will be sniffer dog duo Yoyo and Scamp who have been specially trained to find concealed tobacco and have uncovered more than £12m illegal tobacco products in various raids across the UK.

Illegal tobacco is not just sold from ‘under the counter’ in shops; children are visiting criminal’s houses to buy cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco, meaning they regularly encounter adults who might be selling other illicit goods.

Research shows children are more likely than adults to be offered illegal cigarettes and the low price makes it much easier for them to buy and get hooked on tobacco.

The cheapest pack of illegal cigarettes found recently by an ITV Wales investigation was a Russian brand not sold in the UK which cost just £3 – a legitimate packet of 20 cigarettes costs between £8 and £12.

World No Tobacco Day is an international day of campaigning and action to raise awareness of the life-changing impact tobacco causes worldwide. Coordinated by the World Health Organisation, each year World No Tobacco Day has a central theme and this year’s is around the damage smoking does to the heart.

Stopping smoking is the single best thing someone can do for their heart health with smokers being twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with people who have never smoked.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of tobacco control charity ASH Wales, said: “No matter where tobacco comes from, it is harmful but illegal tobacco is an added risk because it is sold to children and brings crime into our communities.

“Smoking is an addiction which nearly always begins in childhood. The availability of cheap cigarettes – sold by criminals who don’t care – gives children the opportunity to start a life-long and potentially deadly habit.”

Councillor Des Davies, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, said: “Illegal cigarettes are sold at pocket money prices by criminals who are happy to profit from our children’s future. This is why I am so keen that we get them off our streets, and it’s why this campaign is so necessary.”

A tobacco control alliance recently backed calls for a Wales-wide programme to tackle the illegal tobacco problem in Wales.

As part of their illegal tobacco campaign, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has produced a series of hard hitting posters encouraging people to report illicit tobacco sales by e-mail (tsd@npt.gov.uk) or by ringing their dedicated hotline on 01639 686877.