Stoptober is a 28-day event that happens every October where people try to stop smoking. Created by Public Health England, participants pledge not to smoke at all over the 28 days, and it is hoped that they intend to give up altogether afterwards.
Last year, over 250000 smokers took part, and as each year passes by, more and more are expected to sign up.
Helping Smokers Quit Since 2012:
The first Stoptober was considered a major success, with the influence of social media contributing heavily to the campaign’s reach.
Even celebrities get stuck in - with people of all ages and backgrounds standing side by side to help each other stop smoking, it’s no wonder that Stoptober is such a huge event.
Giving up smoking is by no means an easy feat for a lot of people, but there is all sorts of support available from friends, family, the NHS and other participants, as well as on social media such as Facebook.
Evidence has found that after twenty-eight days without a cigarette, smokers are as much as five times more likely to give up smoking for good.
It is important to try and quit, as smoking is not only harmful to your health, but also to the health of others around you. The environment suffers, as does your bank balance.
A smoker who smokes 10 cigarettes a day could save £35 a week, and after a year they could make savings of just over £1800.
Many people smoke regardless of this knowledge as they haven't been motivated enough or had enough willpower to quit... Stoptober aims to change that – quitting one step at a time makes it easier to stay committed and improve your health.
How being smoke-free can benefit you?
Your health begins to improve from the moment you smoke your last cigarette. Take a look at this timeline below to see how your health improves over time.
- 20 mins - Heart rate starts dropping down to normal level.
- 2 hrs - Heart rate and blood pressure close to normal levels. Blood circulation improves.
- 12 hrs - Carbon monoxide levels in blood dropping. Blood oxygen levels improving.
- 24 hrs - Risk of coronary heart disease and chances of a heart attack begin to drop.
- 48 hrs - Senses of smell and taste improve.
- 3 days - Nicotine should be completely gone from the body.
- 2-3 weeks - Exercise and breathing become easier. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms start to reduce.
- 1-9 months - Cilia in the lungs start to regrow making it easier to breathe, cough and fight infection. Withdrawal symptoms should disappear completely.
- 1 year - The risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker.
- 5 years - The risk of having a stroke is the same as a non-smoker.
- 10 years - The risk of dying from lung cancer drops to half that of a smoker.
- 15 years - The risk of heart disease is the same as a non-smoker.
Want to quit smoking?
It’s easy to get involved. Click the links below to find out how.
You could even try and get sponsored - set up your own JustGiving page to collect sponsorship money and then donate it to any charity you wish.
Good luck – remember, you’re not alone.
Useful Links
Supporting Those In Our Care To Give Up Smoking:
The Great Care Company is here to provide support without any judgement.
We want the people we provide home care for to feel able if they want to, to give up smoking.
When the benefits of giving up smoking are so vast for your health and finances, rest assured that we'll do what we can to help you along the journey to quitting and provide support every step of the way.