How to Stop Smoking (or vaping) in 28 Days

Did you know, if you stop smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to quit for good?

A recent medical survey by gov.uk has reported that 3.1 to 3.2 million adults in the UK currently vape.

It is crucial, as this statistic grows, to shed light on the detrimental consequences this habit has on our bodies. We want to raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and empower individuals to make positive changes for a healthier life. Vaping and smoking have detrimental effects on your health, from the damaging impact on the respiratory system to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

Why is it so hard to quit smoking?

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug which provides a temporary relief from feelings of anxiety and depression. It does this by creating a buzz-like feeling. This is a result of your brain releasing adrenaline, felt after only 10 seconds of consuming the drug. 

Smokers will develop a level of physical dependence to their use of tobacco with it speeding up the messages travelling between the brain and body. It is believed that nicotine is just as addictive as heroin and cocaine.

Not only does Tobacco smoke contain nicotine, it also has over 5,000 other chemicals which are consumed when smoking a cigarette. 

When quitting, many people face symptoms like, tiredness, irritability, lack of focus and mood swings. Withdrawal symptoms from nicotine start just 30 minutes after you have your last cigarette, which is why many find it so difficult to quit. 

Ex Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said in the statement released by the health department, that he is 'deeply concerned' about the rise in younger people vaping and was shocked by 'illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children' referring to a recent BBC report.

The Benefits of Quitting

Here are some benefits we have found to be important reasons as to why you should join the large movement of people this October to stop smoking.

Decreased heart risks

Smoking is the leading cause of heart attacks and heart disease. What many people don't know is that these heart risks can be reversed simply by quitting smoking. 

When you quit smoking your blood pressure and heart rate lowers almost immediately. Many people use the excuse of 'the damage is already done' in a bid to continue smoking, however there is research to believe that in just 24 hours of stopping smoking your risk of having a heart attack drops. 

Saving money

Smoking is an expensive habit and prices are still continuing to rise with the current cost of living crisis. If you're smoking 20 cigarettes a day, calculations show that you’re likely to be spending about £3,500 a year, based on the average cost of £9.60 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. Think about all other things you could spend that money on! 

Improved Smell and Taste

An obvious benefit but one not spoken about enough is your improvement in smell and taste once you quit smoking.

The reasoning for your loss of taste and smell when being a smoker is the direct effect the chemicals in cigarettes have on your taste buds and nerve receptors in the nose.

Within just 48 hours of quitting smoking, many will experience an improvement in smell and taste that will become stronger in the weeks that follow. Imagine being able to take back control of your senses again and discover tastes and smells more intensely.

Improved Lung Function

Want to feel like you can walk up a set of stairs and not be out of breath? Quit smoking! 

The sooner you stop smoking the less damage you are doing to your lungs and the faster you can heal and regenerate. People who quit smoking can improve their lung capacity by 10% in just 9 months. This means that the carbon monoxide will gradually leave your bloodstream, helping to relieve symptoms like shortness of breath.

Vaping can make asthma and other existing lung diseases worse. Breathing in the harmful chemicals from vaping products can cause irreversible (cannot be cured) lung damage, lung disease and, in some cases, death. As reported by the Canadian Lung Association.

These are just a handful of benefits that you will endure once you quit smoking. Alongside this, quitting smoking can also add as much as 10 years to your life, compared to if you continued to smoke.