Quitting smoking is tough.

Information technology takes patience, and being kind to yourself as you navigate the difficult journeying.

It also takes practice, irresolute habits, beating cravings and taking back command of your life.

But as thousands of former smokers across Greater Manchester accept plant, it can be done.

And by drawing on the free support bachelor locally, smokers are three times more than likely to quit than with willpower alone.

The Greater Manchester Wellness and Social Intendance Partnership salutes anybody who has e'er tried to cease smoking, and at present, they take launched a huge campaign to support those who dream of quitting.

The entrada, which launches today on Television receiver and radio stations across the city region, centres on the compelling, heart-wrenching, genuine experiences of erstwhile smokers.

The entrada seeks to back up those who want to quit smoking on their journeying, giving them hope and encouraging them to quit so that they tin can experience the incredible, life-changing benefits no matter how long they may take smoked for.

It comes as Public Health England surveys revealed than half dozen in ten smokers desire to quit, whilst four in x - 43% - plan to quit this twelvemonth.

The 'Never Quit Quitting' campaign encourages those who long to quit smoking to get healthier and wealthier, sooner.

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With support from local stop smoking services, smokers are three times more likely to quit than with willpower lone.

Stopping smoking can significantly meliorate your health in many means, some of which are surprising.

Once you stop smoking, some of the benefits are firsthand, whilst some are reaped in the long-term.

After 20 minutes: A person's pulse rate starts to return to normal.

After viii hours: Oxygen levels begin to recover and harmful carbon monoxide in the blood is reduced by half.

After 48 hours: The body has flushed out all carbon monoxide, lungs start to clear out mucus and a person's ability to taste and olfactory property is improved.

After 72 hours: Bronchial tubes brainstorm to relax, breathing becomes easier and free energy levels increment.

Later two-12 weeks: Blood is pumping to the heart and muscles ameliorate as a event of improved apportionment.

After 3-9 months: Coughs, wheezing and breathing bug better, as lung function increases past up to x%.

Later one year: Gamble of heart attack has halved compared to a smoker, and research suggests that people who have quit for a year are happier than those who continue to smoke.

Later 10 years: Risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.

After 15 years: Risk of eye attack falls to the same equally somebody who has never smoked.

The campaign encourages smokers to increase their chances of quitting by using a combination of personalised support and stop smoking aids

The campaign encourages smokers to increase their chances of quitting by using a combination of personalised support and stop smoking aids

Whilst highlighting the serious health implications of smoking, the focus of the campaign is to encourage smokers to increase their chances of quitting by using a combination of personalised support and stop smoking aids, every bit experienced by local residents.

For Nikki Fenton, aged 40 and from Chadderton in Oldham, the decision to stop smoking came at a pivotal time in her life.

Nikki quit smoking five years ago, after coming out as transgender, so that she could offset taking hormone replacement therapy medication before undergoing gender reassignment surgery.

Through the incredible support of her GP, Nikki successfully quit smoking by vaping, and now feels healthier than before.

Nikki said: "I had tried to quit smoking many times in the by and was able to for several years.

"Unfortunately, I relapsed after a night out, but I did want to try to quit over again. I managed to cut down and made a pact with myself to end when they stopped selling 10 packs, as the toll was getting more and more expensive.

"This besides coincided with me coming out as transgender. I was advised by my doctor to quit smoking before I started HRT medication to avoid the risk of blood clots ahead of my gender reassignment surgery."

At such an of import fourth dimension in her life, Nikki was adamant to stick to her mission to quit smoking.

She knew from her previous experience it wasn't going to exist easy, and then she sought advice from her GP.

Nikki explained: "It was different this fourth dimension every bit I was in a totally different mindset.

"I had a bigger reason to quit, and I was adamant. I chose to vape as I knew from previous experience that I missed the activity of smoking.

"I managed to quit overnight, and I gradually reduced the strength of the vape liquid until I was using no nicotine.

"I now experience much healthier, and I have managed to salve coin, which is very helpful as I'chiliad currently unemployed.

"My communication to anyone else considering quitting is requite it a go and don't worry if you relapse, it's all part of the procedure. Just keep trying and find what works for you lot."

Charlotte's life completely changed when she gave up smoking

Charlotte'southward life completely changed when she gave up smoking

For mum-of-2 Charlotte Finchett, aged 49 and from Stockport, her life completely changed when she quit smoking with a nicotine inhaler 9 years agone.

"I knew something had to change when my car broke downwards and I couldn't afford to get it fixed," Charlotte explained.

"When I offset decided to quit smoking, I missed the comfort, only I presently realised it was more like a monster on my shoulder.

"Once I was able to permit become, I felt I had my life back. And with the actress money I was able to purchase a new car which was fantastic."

Since quitting smoking, Charlotte has been helping others overcome their addiction. She now works as a stop smoking specialist at The Christie, supporting cancer patients to cease smoking.

Charlotte said: "Equally an ex-smoker myself, I know starting time-hand how challenging quitting tin be. But it's important to keep trying and to get the right back up.

"Quitting takes practice, only you don't take to do information technology on your own. In fact, with a bit of assistance, you're far more probable to succeed."

Smoking prevalence among adults has fallen by almost a third since 2011

Smoking prevalence among adults has fallen past virtually a third since 2011

Smoking is the world'southward leading cause of preventable illness and expiry, and is known to cause at least 15 different types of cancer.

One in 2 long-term smokers will die, on average, ten years early.

Each twelvemonth, for every smoker that dies, xxx more than will take to live with a serious, smoking-related illness.

In Greater Manchester, 16% of the adult population smoke, equating to around 350,000 people – which is slightly higher than the Great britain average of 14.1% - although smoking prevalence amongst adults has fallen past almost a third since 2011.

Sarah Toll, Greater Manchester Wellness and Social Care Partnership's acting chief officer, said: "Across Greater Manchester, record numbers of people are quitting smoking successfully.

"Whilst this is fantastic news, we want to empower and support even more than people to join them.

"We're committed to making smoking history in Greater Manchester and take launched our brand new 'Never Quit Quitting' campaign to help us achieve our ambitious goal."

In Greater Manchester, 16% of the adult population smoke, equating to around 350,000 people

In Greater Manchester, 16% of the adult population smoke, equating to around 350,000 people

Greater Manchester'south ' Making Smoking History ' strategy was launched in 2017 in a bid to reduce smoking prevalence across the population and, as a effect, reduce the take chances of cancer, heart-disease and other long-term health conditions.

Since then, it has helped to meliorate the health, wealth and wellbeing of thousands of residents and their families.

The Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership's aim is to encounter the greatest and fastest improvement to the health and wellbeing of the two.8 million people of Greater Manchester.

Dr Murugesan Raja, a Manchester GP and Clinical Lead for Respiratory Medicine, said: "I completely sympathize how hard it is to surrender smoking, and sometimes information technology takes more than one attempt to quit forever.

"Myself and my colleagues will e'er want to aid no matter whether this is your first attempt, or you take tried many times earlier.

"It is never too late to quit smoking, but it'due south not too early on to first either! Whenever you requite up smoking, it will be good for your health.

"If yous don't succeed directly away, it doesn't mean y'all never volition. Every quit attempt is one pace closer to quitting for good. And in that location are very existent health benefits that first almost immediately when y'all end smoking.

"In that location's lots of help and support out there for people who want to quit. Even if y'all've tried to quit before, don't exist put off trying again.

"The right advice, back up and motivation can assistance you to quit and stay quit, so talk to your GP, local chemist's or end smoking service and never quit quitting."

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