Quit smoking for World COPD Day
FRESH is urging smokers who are suffering from breathing problems to consider quitting this World COPD Day (November 14)
Around 87,000 people in the North East are estimated to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but over a third of those are not diagnosed.
Although COPD is irreversible, the theme of this year is “It’s not too late” – proving that even people with the disease can make important improvements to their health.
Fresh’s “Every Breath” campaign in the North East has been aimed at raising awareness of COPD among smokers. The campaign is now being rolled out in the South West of England after it resulted in a large rise in the number of people quitting smoking in the North East.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “Although COPD can’t be reversed, people can prevent it from developing or getting worse by stopping smoking and make a big difference to the way they feel. It’s not too late to improve your health.
“The Every Breath campaign was a wake-up call to many smokers who thought that being short of breath was normal, when in many cases it is an early sign of COPD and it makes quitting even more urgent.”
NHS Stop Smoking Services and pharmacies across the region are experienced in helping smokers suffering from breathing problems to quit. To find your nearest service, pop into your local pharmacy or call the NHS Smokefree helpline on0800 022 4 332
COPD is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the UK that usually affects people aged over 35 who have been, or who are, heavy smokers. It is the UK’s fifth biggest killer, killing more people every year than breast, bowel or prostate cancer. People with COPD have trouble breathing in and out.
Before the Every Breath campaign first launched in 2011, a survey of North East smokers found 29% suffer from a regular cough and phlegm, and a fifth say they feel breathless and chesty, but less than a third were aware of COPD.
Ailsa Rutter added: “It is fantastic that the success of our Every Breath campaign, which was run in partnership with the British Lung Foundation and backed by Sting, has inspired a roll out into the South West to encourage smokers there to stop.
“It’s a hard hitting but factual message that we hope will now encourage thousands of smokers in the South West to quit. Campaigns like these have proven effectiveness in encouraging people to quit by clearly communicating why smoking is so harmful, as well as stopping young people from taking up smoking in the first place.”
Figures from the NHS Information Centre revealed the first phase of FRESH’s campaign in October 2011 inspired a huge rise in the number of people quitting smoking with local NHS Stop Smoking Services during October to December 2011:
· A 17 per cent increase in people setting quit dates through NHS Stop Smoking Services in the North East – compared to a 2.9 per cent rise nationally
· A 21 per cent increase in people making it successfully to week four of their quit attempt compared to a 3.1 per cent rise nationally– suggesting North East smokers were more motivated to quit
· The North East NHS Stop Smoking Services as a whole outperforming all other regions following the Every Breath campaign
· A survey following the campaign also found more than two thirds of North East smokers said it made them more likely to quit after seeing it
To find out more about Every Breath visit www.everybreath.tv
To follow FRESH on facebook and Twitter, look for FreshSmokeFree.