This October, One You Cheshire East is supporting Stoptober, the Department of Health & Social Care’s annual quit smoking campaign, which encourages people who smoke to make a quit attempt with the right support behind them.
Stoptober is built on a simple but powerful fact: if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to quit for good.
With around 4.4 million adults in England still smoking and smoking remaining the leading cause of preventable illness and death, campaigns like Stoptober continue to play an important role in helping people improve their health and wellbeing.
Why quitting smoking matters
Smoking affects almost every organ in the body and is linked to a range of serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory illness.
The health benefits of quitting begin much sooner than many people realise. Research shows that after just eight hours, harmful carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by around half. After 48 hours, your senses of taste and smell begin to improve, and within weeks circulation starts to recover.
As the Stoptober campaign highlights:
“Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health.”
It’s also important to remember that stopping smoking can benefit more than just physical health. Studies show that people who quit often experience lower levels of anxiety, stress and depression, alongside improvements in mood and quality of life.
Understanding carbon monoxide and your health
One of the challenges with smoking-related harm is that it is not always visible.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas released when tobacco burns. When inhaled, it enters the bloodstream and reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry around the body. Over time, this places additional strain on vital organs and tissues.
Many people know how many cigarettes they smoke, but very few know how much carbon monoxide they are absorbing.
A carbon monoxide test provides an instant snapshot of the impact smoking is having on your body. The test is quick, non-invasive and takes just 30 seconds to complete.
A CO screening can:
• Shows the level of carbon monoxide currently in your body.
• Provides immediate evidence of the impact smoking is having on your health.
• Demonstrates how quickly your body begins to recover when you stop smoking.
• Identifies potential exposure to second-hand smoke or environmental carbon monoxide.
• Provides a useful starting point if you’re considering quitting.
Breathe Easy: Free Carbon Monoxide Screening Events
As part of Stoptober, the our Be Smoke Free team will be delivering a series of Breathe Easy – Free Carbon Monoxide Screening events across Cheshire East throughout October.
These drop-in sessions provide an opportunity to:
• Receive a free CO reading.
• Learn more about how smoking may be affecting your health.
• Ask questions in a relaxed and supportive environment.
• Speak directly with one of our Stop Smoking Advisors.
• Find out about the free support available through the Be Smoke Free service if you’re ready to quit.
There is no obligation to sign up on the day, you are more than welcome to just come and get a CO test, if now isn’t the right time for you to quit, just know we are here whenever you are ready.
As this year’s Stoptober campaign reminds us:
“Let’s quit smoking together this Stoptober. There’s no need to go it alone.”
Face-to-face support can make a real difference. Having the opportunity to speak with an advisor in-person allows for personalised conversations about smoking habits, quitting options and the practical support available as well as having your CO tested each week- a great motivator as part of your quitting journey.
Unsure what a CO test involves? Here’s the team to show you the test so you know what to expect- include video- CO reading- Stoptober
Every quit attempt counts
If you’ve tried to quit before, Stoptober is an opportunity to try again.
Evidence shows that people often make multiple quit attempts before successfully stopping smoking for good. Rather than viewing previous attempts as failures, they can be seen as part of the journey towards becoming smoke-free.
As highlighted in this year’s Stoptober campaign:
“It’s never too late to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried quitting before, give it another go this Stoptober.”
With the right support, advice and tools, many people find quitting more achievable than they expected.
Where to get support
If you’re thinking about stopping smoking, help is available.
Our Be Smoke Free service offers free stop smoking support from trained Stop Smoking Advisors who can help you create a personalised quit plan, manage cravings and explore the range of support options available.
You can also visit one of our Breathe Easy – Free Carbon Monoxide Screening events throughout October to get your free CO reading and speak to the team.
Take the first step today
Whether you’re ready to quit, thinking about cutting down, or simply want to understand more about the impact smoking may be having on your health, we’re here to help.
Drop into one of our free CO screening events this October or find out more about our Be Smoke Free service.
Visit: www.oneyoucheshireeast.org/smoke-free/
Hear from some of our members who have seen improvements in their CO readings since quitting smoking- https://youtube.com/shorts/R2SeyVMO8v0?feature=share