TUESDAY, 10 MARCH, 2015

EMBARGOED UNTIL PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 10AM, WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH, MAIN CONCOURSE, NINEWELLS HOSPITAL

Put your heart into stopping smoking this No Smoking Day

NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services are encouraging people to put their heart into stopping smoking for No Smoking Day 2015 (Wednesday 11 March).

Staff held an awareness event at the main concourse of Ninewells Hospital today (Wednesday) in a bid to help people win their battle against cigarettes and become proud to be quitters.

To help highlight the no smoking message, patients from the children’s ward were asked to design posters about smoking which were displayed on the day to encourage people to put their heart into stopping smoking.

Staff were also on hand to provide expert advice and information about quitting smoking and the support available.

Audrey Mackenzie, hospital smoking cessation co-ordinator, said, “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of heart disease. The carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke narrows the arteries every time you have a cigarette, reducing blood supply and oxygen to the heart.

“Passive smoking also has an effect on those around you so our message is ‘put your heart into stopping and join us on No Smoking Day’. Well done to everyone who has succeeded in stopping smoking and to those who haven’t yet managed to stop – you CAN do it!”

This year’s No Smoking Day, which is run by the British Heart Foundation, has a ‘Proud to be a Quitter’ campaign theme, which aims to inspire hundreds of thousands of smokers to stub out cigarettes once and for all.

Giving up smoking is the single most important lifestyle decision that anyone can make to improve their

health immediately.

Anyone who wants to stop smoking can call NHS Tayside Smoke Free Services on 0845 600 999 6 to find out about all the ways in which NHS Tayside can help support people to become smoke free. Anyone who wants to stop smoking in 12 weeks can also visit their local pharmacist to find out more about a free programme of support to quit smoking. You can also join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nhstaysidesmokefree

Health benefits to quitting smoking

• 20 minutes after quitting your blood pressure and pulse return to normal

• 48 hours - no nicotine is left in your body. Your senses of taste and smell are greatly improved

• 72 hours - your breathing becomes easier and your energy levels increase

• 2-12 weeks after quitting smoking your circulation improves and exercise can be easier

• 3-9 months - any coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve

• Within five years the risk of heart attack is halved

• Within 10 years the risk of lung cancer is halved and the risk of heart attack is at the same level

as non-smokers

• Medium to long term – stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy, provided you

stop before the onset of serious disease. Even if you have developed a disease, you can benefit

from stopping as your body will be under less strain and be able to fight it more easily

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134