Campaign warns 1 in 2 North East smokers will die from a smoking related disease
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But the risks may be even worse, increasing with amount smoked
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Former smokers share stories
Former smokers have warned how smoking destroys health and rips family life apart for a new quitting campaign launching in the North East this week. Fresh is launching the Don’t be the 1 campaign across the region to warn at least 1 in every 2 long term smokers will die from a smoking-related disease.
Evidence shows at least 1 in 2 long term smokers will die from a smoking-related disease[i], but that risk may now be as high as 2 in 3[ii] for early deaths among smokers. Risk increases with the amount of tobacco smoked per day and years smoked.
Despite decades of denial, the tobacco industry has long known about the addictiveness of cigarettes. Tobacco companies manipulated the addictiveness of cigarettes via changes in content and design to attract and retain smokers. As a consequence, smokers today are at a greater risk of disease than smokers in the 1960’s, despite smoking fewer cigarettes[iii].
Around 314,000 people still smoke in the North East and a shocking 117,000 people have died in our region from smoking since the year 2000.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “Smoking is still our biggest killer and robs too many North East families of loved ones far too soon.
“Like many families, I lost my dad Stewart to smoking when he was just 61 from COPD. He was a fisherman and county golf champion and he should have been enjoying his life, his family and his grandchildren rather than struggling for breath. We miss him every day.
“It is so wrong that most smokers get addicted as children, lured in deliberately by tobacco companies and are trapped in an addiction which costs them money and ruins health. We are running this campaign as a reminder of the risks and the impact on families everywhere.
“It is also time that the tobacco companies themselves were made to pay towards the damage they inflict”
Dr Ruth Sharrock is a respiratory consultant at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and leads on treating tobacco dependency across the North East and North Cumbria. She said:
“Every day in my role I see patients with COPD and lung cancer. It is truly devastating to watch patients having to deal with such difficult diagnoses and also the impact on their family.
“The fact is the more you smoke, and the longer you wait to quit, the worse the risks from smoking. Every cigarette smoked is harmful, taking burning poisons into the lungs and around the body causing mutations which can cause cancer.
“The sooner you stop, the better and ideally quitting before 40 reduces most of the risks. But quitting at any age brings huge health benefits. Even with patients with a serious diagnosis, stopping smoking can have a significant effect on their life expectancy.”
“The message is clear that it is never too late, no matter how long you’ve smoked or how old you are”
Former smokers Davey Bratton and Damon Mowbray are backing the campaign.
Davey Bratton
Electrician Davey Bratton, 35, is an ex-smoker whose mum Maggie’s story went around the world as far as New Zealand as part of a quitting campaign in 2016. Although Maggie died in 2020 from a non-smoking related cause, Davey was able to tell his mum he’d quit just two days before she died. The family have had messages from people from around the world thanking them for the encouragement to quit.
“Now that my mam’s passed away I’m the only one left to continue her legacy. She’d be proud if just one more person quit from seeing the campaign.
“When my mam’s ad was running I felt guilty because I was still smoking. Eventually I thought I’m going to make me mam proud and quit smoking again. The last conversation I had with her on Facetime was me with a vape saying I’d quit smoking. She died knowing that I’d quit so that makes me happy.”
Hear Davey’s full story here
Damon Mowbray
Care assistant, Damon Mowbray, 49, from Hartlepool, quit after suffering a heart attack while at work aged just 46. After being rushed to hospital he had surgery to have two stents fitted.
“ When I saw the doctor, he said my heart attack was caused by smoking, so I knew I had to quit there and then.
“My advice to anyone who is thinking about making a quit attempt is don’t give up. Keep trying to quit as you don’t want to end up like me. Make sure you get support and find a quitting method that works for you.”
Read Damon’s full story here.
Quitting smoking at any age dramatically lowers mortality from all major smoking-related diseases[i]. Visit FreshQuit.co.uk for tips and advice and local quit support.
Facts about smoking
- Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and premature death, accounting for approximately 74,600 deaths a year in England.
- Smoking causes 16 types of cancer, including over 7 out of 0 cases of lung cancer[ii] which kills around 35,000 people a year in the UK. It also causes cancers of the mouth, nasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, stomach, kidney, bowel, liver, pancreas, ureter, oesophagus, cervix, bladder and ovaries and myeloid leukaemia.
- Smoking also kills around 15,000 people each year from cardiovascular disease and stroke.
- Smoking is the main cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (bronchitis and emphysema)
- Smoking increases the risk of both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
How smoking affects the North East
Smoking costs the North East over £887 million a year [iii] in healthcare, social care costs and lost earnings:
- £124.9 million in NHS costs with around 33,355 hospital admissions, 1.2m GP consultations, nearly 695,000 GP prescriptions, 413,000 practice nurse consultations and over 224,700 outpatient visits.
- £66.9 million in social care costs with smokers needing social care at a younger age than non-smokers for everyday tasks such as dressing, walking and using the toilet due to smoking. This includes the cost of care to local authorities, care provided in the home and, for the first time, residential care costs.
- £684 million a year is lost in earnings and employment prospects. With smoking causing life-limiting conditions, smokers are not only more likely to die in working age, but more likely to become ill, increasing the likelihood of being out of work and reducing their average wage.
References
[i] 50-Year Trends in Smoking-Related Mortality in the United States https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMsa1211127
[ii] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/lung-cancer/risk-factors
[iii] Ready Reckoner – Action on Smoking and Health A cost calculator, allowing you to see the costs of smoking to society