Calderdale residents urged to have a smoke free New Year and watch the cash stack up!

We all know smoking is bad for our health, but did you realise how bad it was for your bank balance? Someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day will spend more than 40 thousand pounds over the next 20 years on cigarettes alone!

With the help of your local NHS stop smoking service you can quit the habit for good and within a few weeks you’ll already notice a difference in your health and bank balance.

Figures show you’re four times more likely to quit smoking for good if you use NHS stop smoking services and as soon as you stop your body will begin to repair the damage caused by cigarettes, so it’s never too late.

The Calderdale stop smoking team is part of the local health improvement service, which is provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team offers free friendly support and nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine inhalers and patches. They can also help with access to Zyban and Champix to help smokers who choose to go smokefree.

Specialist stop smoking advisor Jan Spence said, "The body has an amazing ability to heal itself. The minute you stop smoking every organ starts repairing damage and the risk of serious illness is reduced, so it’s never too late to stop. Research shows people are four times more likely to succeed with professional support than willpower alone. We can provide motivation and help to get someone on the right track to giving up smoking for good. Not only is it good for your health but it can also help to save money as the average 20 a day smoker spends £182 per month on cigarettes – that works out at over £2,100 a year!"

So why not put quitting smoking at the top of your New Year’s resolution list!

If you live in Calderdale, and would like to know more about this free service contact the specialist stop smoking service on 01422 281505 or email help.2quit@swyt.nhs.uk