Smokers urged to quit the habit

HEALTH officials have once again said that support is available for smokers in the Yeovil and South Somerset area wanting to quit the habit.

The Somerset Stop Smoking Service provides a “Tailored Quit” programme which is free, and delivered by professional NHS healthcare professionals.

Sara Dove, manager for the Service, said: “We encourage people to try different approaches and medication until the adviser finds the right one that suits them.

“There are medications available that deal with your nicotine addiction and stop the cravings plus there is support to help kick the habits you have formed around smoking.

“Remember you are four times more likely to quit for good with the help of our Somerset Stop Smoking Advisers. Whether you have tried once or ten times already to give up just give us a ring.”

Free Quit Kits are available from pharmacies, while anyone looking to quit can visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk for information and support.

You can also phone the Somerset Stop Smoking Service on 0303-033-9840 or text MYQUIT to 80010 or email stop.smokingteam@sompar.nhs.uk .

A new generation of Somerset smokers are being told that just 15 cigarettes cause a mutation in their DNA that can lead to cancerous tumours in a hard-hitting health campaign by the Department of Health.   

The new ads feature a tumour growing on a cigarette whilst it is being smoked. Using high level technology the ad shows how tobacco smoking binds and mutates a person’s DNA.

The campaign comes in response to statistics that show more than a third of smokers still think the health risks associated with smoking are greatly exaggerated.

In Somerset there are 5,000 hospital admissions a year for diseases attributable to smoking, of which almost 1,700 are cancers.  Each year almost 900 people die in Somerset from smoking related diseases.

Stewart Brock, NHS Somerset Public Health Specialist said: “Research shows that smokers have 20 times more risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers and an increased risk of many other tumour types.”

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