Stopping smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for your own health and the health of the people around you. When you stop, you give your lungs the chance to repair and you will be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too – and they start almost immediately.
We all know that quitting smoking improves physical health. But it’s also proven to boost your mental health and wellbeing: it can improve mood and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
The risks of passive smoking
Secondhand smoke is a lethal cocktail of more than 4,000 irritants, toxins and cancer-causing substances. Most secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless, so no matter how careful you think you’re being, people around you still breathe in the harmful poisons. Opening windows and doors or smoking in another room in the house doesn’t protect people. Smoke can linger in the air for 2 to 3 hours after you’ve finished a cigarette, even with a window open. Also, even if you limit smoking to one room, the smoke will spread to the rest of the house where people will inhale it.
Children and passive smoking
Passive smoking is especially harmful for children as they have less well-developed airways, lungs and immune systems. Children who live in a household where at least 1 person smokes are more likely to develop:
- Asthma
- Chest Infections – Like Pneumonia and Bronchitis
- Meningitis
- Ear Infections
- Coughs and Colds
Children are particularly vulnerable in the family car where secondhand smoke can reach hazardous levels even with the windows open
To protect children, a new ban on smoking in cars and other vehicles carrying children was introduced in October 2015. It is now against the law to smoke in a private vehicle if there’s a young person under 18 present.
What Support is available?
Healthy Lifestyle Services – One You Walsall:
- One You Walsall is a free healthy lifestyle service dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of all residents across Walsall in making great choices for a more positive lifestyle.
- Services include: physical activity; healthy eating; weight loss; emotional wellbeing; welfare; alcohol reduction; quitting smoking; and NHS Health Checks.
- The team supports everyone – adults, families and workplaces – and also can help to find the right support.
One You Walsall: 01922 444 044 Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm