The HSE is marking National No Smoking Day, which takes place on Wednesday March 9, by reminding smokers that quitting is one of the most important steps they can take to improve their health and their quality of life.
“Smoking is incredibly harmful to your health, causing a wide range of debilitating and fatal conditions – and we know that half of all smokers will die from a tobacco related disease,” said Dr Fenton Howell, public health specialist with the HSE.
“Quitting smoking is a process – most people who quit successfully do so after several attempts, but it is worth the effort. You will save money, feel better almost immediately – and most importantly, you will avoid the very real risk of serious, long-term, and often killer illnesses.”
There are approximately one million smokers at any time in Ireland. Many people quit smoking by themselves, as a decision to improve their own health, but the HSE also provides a range of supportive services to help people to take that positive step. Using such supports increases your chance of success in giving up smoking.
These supports include the National Smokers Quitline, a helpline provided by the HSE in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society. It offers a trained team of smoking cessation counsellors who can assist smokers to quit. It is available to everyone, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 10pm, on Lo Call 1850 201 203.
The HSE website www.giveupsmoking.ie gives a wide range of facts, tips, and advice, and allows smokers to sign up to their personal quit plan with ongoing online support.
Pharmacists nationwide also play an important role in helping smokers to consider quitting, and supporting them to keep trying if they fail at first.
Many HSE health promotion departments, GPs, and primary care teams offer dedicated smoking cessation support services. These include group or one-on-one courses on how to quit smoking and move forward without cigarettes.
Call the Quitline on 1850 201 203 or visit www.giveupsmoking.ie
