October is just around the corner and it is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the services and information available to get you started on your stop smoking journey!
Why October?
Research has found that if you can abstain from smoking for 28 days, you are five times more likely to remain smoke free for good, and so every year the Department of Health and Social Care runs a stop smoking campaign throughout the month of October under the brand Better Health. The Stoptober campaign has now been running for twelve years, and has helped over 2.5 million smokers to make a quit attempt.
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘When you stop smoking, good things start to happen’, recognising the many benefits of quitting smoking, from health benefits, to financial benefits.
What are the benefits of quitting smoking?
While smoking rates in England are at their lowest since records began, the Office for National Statistics found that there are still 5.3 million smokers in England, which equates to 12.7% of the adult population. Research has shown that the total cost of smoking to society in England is approximately £17 billion per year, which includes the £1.9 billion cost to the NHS annually for treating smoking related illness.
We all know that smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness in the UK, but what you may not know is just how quickly your body can begin to recover after your last cigarette. A recent survey found that 95% of ex-smokers saw positive changes in their life soon after quitting.
Changes can be seen within just 20 minutes, with your pulse returning to normal, and after 8 hours your oxygen levels are recovering and the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood has halved.
Two days after your last cigarette your body has flushed out all of the carbon monoxide and your lungs are working on clearing out mucus, you’ll also notice that your senses of taste and smell are improving.
After three days of no smoking your bronchial tubes will begin to relax and breathing will become easier, while energy levels increase.
When asked about the top benefits they saw within two weeks of quitting smoking, ex-smokers reported having more energy, feeling healthier, and breathing better.
After one year of quitting your circulation has improved, your lungs are working 10% better, and your risk of heart attack has halved compared to that of a smoker.
After ten years of being smoke free, your risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
No matter how long you have smoked for, it is never too late to quit and make the best decision you can make for your health!
Speaking on the benefits of quitting smoking, NHS doctor, Dr Dawn Harper, said:
As a GP, I am always trying to encourage my patients to quit smoking as I know the detrimental impact it has on so many of our body’s systems. Quitting is one of the best things a smoker can do for their health, and kick starts a range of benefits from easier breathing to reduced coughing to better tasting food. It will also put you on the road to long-term health benefits including reduced risk of heart attack and lung cancer.
Another benefit of kicking the habit is that those who have quit smoking for a year are happier than those who continue to smoke.
Additionally, research suggests that if a person smokes a pack a day they could be spending over £3650 on cigarettes per year, meaning that quitting could certainly help you save some pennies.
Health Minister, Neil O’Brien, summed up the benefits of becoming smokefree well by saying:
Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death. When people quit smoking, the benefits are huge - they are healthier, wealthier and pressure on the NHS eases.
Switch to vaping
Although you may be tempted to quit cold-turkey, this can substantially reduce your chances of a successful quit attempt, and most people will need the help of a nicotine replacement tool to help them manage their nicotine cravings.
E-cigarettes have been found by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to be at least 95% less harmful than smoking, and they are an extremely effective tool when making a quit attempt. In fact, the most recent Cochrane review found that vaping is twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapies commonly prescribed to patients like nicotine patches and gum. They allow you to keep your nicotine cravings at bay, as well as addressing the physical habit of smoking.
Research from University College London has also found that smokers who switch to vaping could save up to £780 per year!
Disposable vapes
Disposable vapes, like the Vuse GO range, are a great short-term vaping option that are ideal if you are heading on a night out, short trip, or to an event when your usual vape kit may not be the most convenient option.
Each device comes prefilled with e-liquid and pre-charged, so it is ready to go straight out of the box. The battery on the device is designed to last as long as the e-liquid, so once the e-liquid has been used up the device can be responsibly disposed of and either replaced with a fresh one or with a permanent vape kit. The devices will have an estimated puff count which can give you an idea of how long the device may last, for example, the Lost Mary BM600S range offer up to 600 puffs per device.
Although they are prefilled you are not limited in the flavour selection, as disposable vapes are available in a huge range of flavour options from tobaccos, to menthols, to fruits, to desserts, so there is something to suit all flavour preferences. The Elf Bar 600V2 range for example offers 17 different flavours, so there is certainly plenty of choice.
Prefilled pod kits
If you are new to vaping and are a little nervous about having to learn how to use and maintain a vape kit, a prefilled pod system like the Elf Bar ELFA PRO may be the perfect place for you to start.
These devices have a rechargeable battery designed to last the average vaper for a whole day of vaping, and can be easily charged via USB cable. The devices themselves are extremely easy-to-use and travel-friendly, requiring very little maintenance or pre-existing vaping knowledge.
Each device will have a range of pods that are specifically designed to fit them perfectly, and you will be able to choose between a number of different flavours to help you find the ones you love. The pods click in and out of place, so once the pod is empty you can remove it and pop a new one in place in seconds, perfect for when you are in a rush. This also allows you to change flavour whenever you want without them becoming mixed within the tank.
Some ranges, like the Vuse ePod pods which are compatible with the Vuse Pro pod kit offer multiple different nicotine strengths which allows you to choose the exact nicotine strength that best reflects your previous smoking habits. This also gives you the option to drop your nicotine strength over time if you would like without having to move on to a different vape kit.
These devices, like the SKE Crystal Plus pod kit, do not have buttons, but instead use draw activation technology so you simply need to inhale through the mouthpiece to start vaping. There are no complicated settings to learn and the built-in LED light will indicate when the device is firing and when you need to think about popping it on charge.
Refillable vape kits
Although prefilled pod kits are convenient and simple, you may prefer to be able to choose from a wider range of e-liquids to find the exact nicotine strength and flavours that suit you. Which nicotine strength will best suit you will depend on your previous smoking habits, you can consult our blog post ‘Which strength e-liquid should I use?’ for more information on how to find the right strength for you.
Refillable vape kits like the VOOPOO Argus Z allow you to repeatedly refill the pod or tank with your chosen e-liquid without having to dispose of the pod every time. Instead, you will need to replace the pod or coil whenever the coil starts to burn out.
For example, some devices like the Vaporesso XROS 3 utilise refillable plastic pods with built-in coils, so once the coil starts to taste burnt you can replace the pod with a new one and refill each pod multiple times before it needs to be replaced.
Alternatives to vaping
If you are looking to make a quit attempt but feel a vape kit may not be the right tool for you, there are other nicotine replacement options that may be a better fit.
Heat-not-burn devices like the IQOS range still utilise tobacco, but eliminate the need for combustion. These devices use specially designed tobacco sticks and gently heat the tobacco to create a vapour rather than burning it and creating smoke. This gives an authentic flavour and an experience that is very similar to smoking, but cuts down on the nasty toxins that combustion can produce.
The IQOS ILUMA and ILUMA ONE use TEREA tobacco sticks that are available in a number of different blends, including menthol and fruit blends, so you can find the flavour profile that best suits you.
Another popular smoking alternative are nicotine pouches like the Zyn range. Inspired by Swedish snus, these discreet pouches contain no tobacco, and can be placed under the top lip for a consistent source of nicotine that will help manage cravings.
These pouches, like the Helwit range, are available in a variety of different nicotine strengths and refreshing flavours, and come in a handy can that makes them easy to store and even includes a waste compartment where you can store used pouches while out and about.
If you or someone you know are thinking of making a stop smoking attempt this October, head in to your local Evapo store or speak to a member of our Customer Service team for advice and recommendations for getting started.
Sources
Stoptober 2023
ons.gov.uk 05/09/2023
ash.org.uk 16/05/2023
gov.uk 20/09/2023
gov.uk 29/09/2022
cochrane.org 17/11/2022
ucl.ac.uk 26/06/2019
