Good luck to everyone who is quitting smoking this month for Stoptober – you can do it! Don’t forget that your local stop smoking service, ‘Breathe – It’s about Living’,  is here for you all the way.

Now, more than ever is the time to put your lungs first, quit smoking and breathe easier. Stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including for people with an existing smoking-related disease.

Visit www.breathestopsmoking.org or call 020 3633 2609 to get free tailored support from Breathe stop smoking service, including telephone support and nicotine replacement therapies.

Jasmin’s story

Jasmin (not her real name) is 26 years old and has been smoking for 4 years. She had tried to quit unsuccessfully several times before, but only managed it for a few days. When COVID-19 hit, Jasmin decided that gaining good health and protecting herself from the virus should take priority.

She said: “I’ve got asthma and long-term lung issues so when the pandemic crisis started I was getting quite anxious about my health and decided to stop smoking. I found the Breathe service through my local hospital. They were very supportive and non-judgmental. I received nicotine replacement products in the post, which was very helpful. It would have been a lot more difficult to quit without help from my Breathe advisor.”

Jasmin was determined to succeed this time and protect her health – and she did! She immediately started noticing the benefits.

She says: “Since stopping smoking I am less wheezy at night time and my breathing has improved a lot. My sense of smell is also noticeably getting better. I can no longer tolerate the smell of cigarettes!”