With smoking rates continuing to decline, the outlook is positive, but there’s still work to be done to protect the nation’s health

The number of people who smoke in the UK is continuing to decline, as it has been since 2011, falling from 14.7 per cent of the population in 2018 to 14.1 per cent in 2019, according to the latest ‘Adult smoking habits in the UK’ report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 

In addition, recent figures from NHS Digital reveal that the number of smoking cessation prescription items dispensed in England has dropped by more than 1.5 million over the last decade: fewer people smoking means fewer prescriptions are necessary.

With the negative impact of smoking on health well known, not to mention extensive, these statistics are welcome news, but there is still a long way to go before the UK is smokefree, which the Government plans to achieve by 2030. Events such as the ban on smoking in enclosed public places in 2007 and, more recently the switch to plain cigarette packaging featuring stark health warnings, a ban on all tobacco promotion and criminalising smoking in cars carrying young children, have all played their part in reducing smoking rates, alongside anti-smoking campaigns and providing smokers with support to quit via the NHS.

What’s more, an unexpected positive outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic is that between March and July 2020, over a million people in the UK stopped smoking as a direct result of the pandemic and a further 440,000 smokers made quit attempts. Smokers hospitalised with Covid-19 are more likely to suffer severe outcomes than non-smokers, and smoking-related illnesses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and other heart conditions have also been linked to worse outcomes from Covid-19.

Joseph Carter, head of Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Northern Ireland, says: “With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect our daily lives, there has never been a better time to quit smoking. We know the transformative affect it can have on people’s lives, so we need to ensure the support is there to help them kick the habit for good.”

Between March and July 2020, over a million people in the UK stopped smoking as a direct result of the pandemic

Get to know the facts

Speaking as part of a stop smoking campaign run by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in 2020, Lee from Castleford, West Yorkshire, who had smoked since he was 18, said: “With the present climate and coronavirus, I’m so glad I have quit. My niece, who I am close to, was the person who motivated me – she said how much better I’d feel if I stopped smoking. I was sick of waking up coughing and spluttering – so
I made myself give quitting a go. Once the patches went on, that was it. My advice to people is to get to know the facts. If you put your mind to it, you can stop. You’ve got to be determined, but it does get easier.”

It’s a common assumption among smokers that if they have smoked for several years, or in some cases their entire adult life, there is no point in quitting. This isn’t true. Stopping smoking is the most important thing a person can do for their own health and the health of those around them – and it’s never too late. 

Smokers who successfully make it one week without smoking are nine times as likely to successfully quit, and the chances of quitting smoking for good increase with every quit attempt. When people can understand the benefits of quitting, it helps motivate them and gives them a goal to aim for, and this is where information, advice and support from community pharmacy comes in.

Physical and behavioural dependence

Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds, many of which are regarded as toxic and/or carcinogenic. Some of the key ones include:

• Nicotine: a highly addictive compound with a number of pharmacological effects. It stimulates the central nervous system, increases the heart rate and raises blood pressure
• Tar: formed when tobacco smoke condenses, this is the yellow/brown residue at the end of a cigarette filter, which stains teeth and fingers. It contains a mixture of various chemicals including arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde and benzene
• Carbon monoxide: a poisonous, colourless and odourless gas produced as a result of incomplete burning. Cigarette smoke contains high levels of carbon monoxide that when inhaled combines with the haemoglobin in red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body.

Although there are many compelling reasons to stop smoking, including health and financial benefits, it is not easy to stop. Physical dependence on nicotine is a huge challenge. Over time, the body adapts to the presence of nicotine so customers trying to quit may experience withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, increased appetite, inability to concentrate, irritability, dizziness, constipation and nicotine craving. These withdrawal symptoms tend to peak at about 24 hours and gradually ease over two to four weeks after quitting. Nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum, inhalers and sprays are the first-line measures to help manage this withdrawal period, as going cold turkey is not easy, successful or commonly advised.

Behavioural dependence, such as the pattern of smoking at certain times of day, in certain situations or as a way to help manage stress or other feelings and emotions, also needs to be addressed when helping customers quit smoking. This can be particularly challenging to tackle, as it can involve heavily ingrained behaviours. However, with the right support, as well as perseverance on the part of the individual wanting to quit, these behaviours can be altered and replaced with healthier alternatives to smoking.

All about the benefits

The positive impact of quitting smoking can be felt by individuals almost instantly after their final cigarette, with some signs such as the heart rate and blood pressure returning to normal in as little as 20 minutes.

Over the next days, weeks and months, blood oxygen levels increase, helping to boost energy levels and nourish oxygen-starved tissues and blood vessels; senses of taste and smell start to improve; breathing becomes easier as the bronchial tubes relax and lung capacity increases; and circulation improves, as do coughs and wheezing.

After one year of giving up smoking, the risk of heart disease is halved compared to someone who is still smoking. After 10 years the risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker and after 15 years the risk of heart attack is the same as that of someone who has never smoked.

As well as these important health reasons for stopping smoking, there are many other benefits of giving up that can be highlighted when customers are seeking advice about quitting. These include: 

• Physical changes: the appearance of the skin starts to improve, as smoking can result in premature aging, as well as causing a yellow/grey complexion. Giving up smoking also helps to improve the health and appearance of the teeth and gums
• Lifestyle improvements: the risk of exposing family and friends to passive smoking reduces and an home and personal environments improve such as a cleaner, fresher house and no more smell of smoke
• Financial benefits: the money saved from not buying expensive cigarettes can be used for other things
• General social wellbeing: improved ability to taste food better, potentially bringing back some enjoyment of eating, as well as improved confidence and self-esteem.