PUBLIC Health England in the West Midlands is calling on smokers to put their lungs first and breathe easier ahead of flu season this ‘Stoptober’.
There were 19,065 fewer smokers in the region between 2018 and 2019, a 0.4 per cent decrease in smoking prevalence
The nationwide Better Health – Stoptober campaign is calling on smokers to join the one million smokers who quit during the coronavirus lockdown, according to calculations by Action on Smoking and Health.
This Stoptober, smokers in England are being encouraged to put their lungs first, strengthen their immune system and breathe easier ahead of the flu season.
Smoking damages the lungs and airways and harms the immune system, leaving addicts more vulnerable to infections such as flu. Smokers generally have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infections and experiencing more severe symptoms.
Stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including for people with an existing smoking-related disease.
Lola Abudu, deputy director for health and wellbeing for Public Health England in the West Midlands said: “We’re reminding smokers that now more than ever, is the time to put your lungs first, quit smoking and breathe easier.
“For anyone thinking of quitting, it’s important to remember that it is much easier to quit with the right support and by doing it in Stoptober you can be confident that you are not doing it alone.”
Search ‘Stoptober’ for a full range of quitting support options.
