NHS quit smoking services have helped 4,000 people to quit smoking in Bradford this year.

Residents stopped smoking for at least 4 weeks. The support on offer included drop-in sessions with trained advisors, and free nicotine gum and patches. Smoking advisors were situated at supermarkets.

Lorraine Bradbury, from the stop-smoking service, said: “This has been a very successful year for us and the team has worked hard to help local smokers go smoke-free.”

“Most smokers would like to stop and getting help and support from an advisor will more than double their chance of being successful.” She said that stopping smoking was “the best thing anyone could do to improve their health.”

Benefits of quitting smoking include better fertility, and a lower risk of heart disease, impotence and sex drive. Financial rewards are also significant. One survey found that if you and your partner smoke, you could be spending around 15% of your income on the habit. Over the past ten years Bradford Community Health Services have helped 27,000 people to go smoker free.

Giving up

Sue Wilson, senior stop smoking specialist, said: “Around two in every three smokers want to stop smoking, so it’s important for people to know that we deliver a free and friendly service that offers expert advice to those who want to break the addiction.”

Both physical and psychological factors cause smoking addiction. A study released this month suggested that quitting smoking is more a mental challenge than a physical one.

If you would like to give up smoking, remember that help is at hand. Smoking cessation medications may help. Speak to your doctor about the best course of action.