Smoking

Stopping smoking is the single most helpful thing you can do to improve your health and the health of the people around you.

Smoking causes serious health problems including lung cancer and heart disease. It also puts the people around you at risk from passive smoking particularly babies and young children.

This section of our web site explains the health benefits of stopping smoking, and offers tips for giving up. It also explains how the NHS Stop Smoking Service can help you to quit, and provides links to other organisations that offer further information and support.

How is Leeds tackling this issue?
Why should I stop smoking?
Top 10 tips for giving up
How can the NHS Stop Smoking Service help?
Useful links

How is Leeds tackling this issue?  Back to top

Smoke free is best for health - there is no safe level of exposure to smoke or second-hand smoke. Government policy says that people should have the right to be protected from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and that children should have the right to be free of exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion. Tobacco control should, therefore, seek to shift public opinion and promote non-smoking as the social norm, and all smokers should have the opportunity to receive smoking cessation advice and support.

In Leeds, we aim to increase support for smokers who want to stop, increase awareness and understanding of tobacco use and health, and reduce access to tobacco products.

We actively support the Smoke Free Homes Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the impact of second hand smoke on childrens health and encourages people to sign up to smoking restrictions in their homes.

For further details, see the Leeds Tobacco Control Strategy 2006 to 2010.

Why should I stop smoking?  Back to top

20 minutes after your last cigarette - your pulse returns to normal.

1 hour after - your circulation improves. Your hands and feet feel warmer.

8 hours after -  nicotine and carbon monoxide levels start to fall. Oxygen levels start to increase.

1 day after - your lungs start to clear out mucus and debris.

2 days after - your senses of taste and smell improve. Nicotine is removed from your body.

2 weeks after -  withdrawal symptoms begin to ease. Walking and daily tasks become easier.

1 month after - withdrawal symptoms have eased. Your breathing and energy levels continue to improve.

6 months after -  your risk of heart attack, cancer and other smoking diseases begins to fall.

1 year after -  risk of heart attack is halved.

10 years after - risk of lung cancer is reduced by 30 – 50%.

15 years after - risk of heart attack is at the same level as non-smokers.

You will save ££££s - click here to see how much you could be saving

Top 10 tips for giving up  Back to top

1. Contact your local NHS Stop Smoking Service for practical help and advice from trained specialists.

2. Make a list of all of the reasons why you want to stop smoking eg. health, for your children, smell, inconvenience, cost.

3. Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Champix (Varenicline) or Zyban (Bupropion) to help you manage your cravings.

4. Plan ahead to help you cope with difficult situations such as stress, boredom, the smoke break at work

5. Pick a quit date and stick to it!

6. Keep busy with jobs around the house or garden, puzzle books, jigsaws, computer games, a new hobby etc. A substitute activity can help temporarily. This could be chewing gum or sugar free sweets, drinking a glass of water or fiddling with a pen.

7. Pair up with someone else who wants to stop so you can support each other or attend group support sessions, they really do help.

8. Keep track of the money you are saving and treat yourself. A 20 a day smoker will spend over £2,000 per year on cigarettes.

9. Remember there's no such thing as just one cigarette.

10. Think positive - you CAN do it!

How can the NHS Stop Smoking Service help?   Back to top

You can call your local Smoking Services team on

0800 169 4219

Ring now for free advice, support and details of clinics in your area and increase your chances of stopping for good.

Specially trained advisors offer both daytime and evening support sessions in venues in your local area. All help is free of charge.

When you call us, one of our dedicated team will find a session that suits you.

When you go along to the session, you will discuss the treatment you want to use to quit. One of our advisors will give you advice and support while you're stopping smoking.

Remember: If you get support while using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), you're 4 times more likely to quit than just using will power.

Useful links  Back to top

Giving up Smoking

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health)

No Smoking Day

SmokeFree Yorkshire and Humber