Drs John Coffin and David Acorn
Family Medical Practice
0844 477 3088

Keeping Healthy

Smoking

Addiction to tobacco is a serious problem. It's an expensive pleasure, it costs a lot of money and can also cost you your health. 

If you have children they are more likely  to suffer with chest trouble due to passive smoking, and three times more likely to become  smokers themselves.

If you are thinking about stopping, then visit our Stop Smoking page for information about the service we offer to help you succeed in breaking the habit.

If you are not sure if you should stop, this is a list of the health benefits of stopping, and if you are still unsure there is also a list of the harms to your health.

How could stopping smoking benefit me?

• You'll look better, because smoking is bad for your skin and stains your teeth and fingers

• Your sense of taste and smell will improve dramatically

• You'll be able to perform physical activities better

• Your hair, clothes and skin will smell fresher

• You will have more money to spend (see below)

• After 5 years your risk of a heart attack will be about half that of a smoker

• After 10 years your risk of lung cancer will be half that of a smoker and your risk of a heart attack will be the same as if you had never smoked

• Men who stop smoking at the age of 30 stand to gain an extra 10 years of life

• Men who stop smoking at 50 can still gain an extra 6 years life

What harm can smoking do to my health?

• men who smoke die 10 years earlier on average

• smokers are more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack than non smokers

• 44% of all those that die from heart disease before reaching 65 in the UK died because of their smoking

• smoking causes strokes, 1 in 10 deaths from strokes are associated with smoking

• smoking damages the blood vessels in the arms and legs which can result in bad circulation and even gangrene and amputation

• lung cancer, the more you smoke the worse the risk, for instance if you smoke 25 a day your risk is 25 times greater than a non smoker

• bronchitis and emphysema, which cause serious disease and disability due to breathing problems. Sadly 83% of deaths from these diseases in this country are smoking related

• male smokers are more likely to be impotent than non smokers

• smoking also reduces fertility

• smokers have a greater risk of getting stomach and duodenal ulcers

• pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have miscarriages, stillbirths and low birth weight babies

• Women smokers are 5-10% more likely to get osteoporosis before their menopause

How much does it cost me?

On this page

• How could stopping smoking benefit me?
• What harm can smoking do to my health?
• How much does it cost me?

See also

• Visit this link to the NHS web site giving up smoking
• Our page with information on helplines for smokers
• Find out about our smoking cessation service

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