Calderdale Council is backing a national campaign which is rasing awareness of the harm smoking does to your body.
Paul Butcher, Calderdale Council’s director of public health, said; “Smoking significantly increases your chance of a heart attack or stroke.
“If you could see the damage cigarettes do, you’d stop.”
Smoking still remains the biggest cause of premature death in England, accounting for 80,000 deaths a year with half of all long-term smokers dying prematurely from a smoking related disease.
Public Health England’s new campaign is using hard-hitting advertising to show the damaging effects that toxins from smoking have on the blood, lungs, heart and brain.
Mr Butcher said: “This campaign delivers a powerful message to highlight the immediate and serious invisible damage caused by smoking, at a time when many are looking to make a fresh, healthy start to the year.”
Tobacco smoke contains toxic chemicals including arsenic, tar, carbon monoxide and ethanol. Every time you smoke, blood that is thick and dirty with toxins circulates through your body in seconds.
Coun Simon Young, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for health inequalities, said; “The majority of smokers want to quit, and January is the perfect time for them to take up the stop smoking challenge, making a new start for the New Year.
“Of course, stopping this addictive habbit is easier said than done, but you’re not alone,
“Calderdale’s NHS stop smoking service is there to offer help and support.
“You are four times more likely to quit with the help of a support service.”
For more advice and information about all the support tools that are available to help you stop smoking, visit the NHS Smokefree website, www.nhs.uk/smokefree.