Benefits of stopping smoking

It is never too late to quit smoking and you will see immediate benefits.

When you stop smoking:

After 20 minutes – Blood pressure and pulse return to normal
After 8 hours – Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal.
After 24 hours – Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body
After 48 hours – There is no nicotine left in the body.
After 72 hours – Breathing becomes easier
After 3 to 9 months – Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases
After one year – Risk of heart attack is half that of a smoker
After 10 years – Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker

Additional benefits include:

Improved sense of taste and smell
More money
More energy
Clearer, less irritated eyes
Feeling more relaxed
Wake up feeling better
Fewer allergy and sinus problems
Improvement in existing problems such as asthma, diabetes and emphysema
Improved appearance

Smoking is a serious risk to health – it is not just a habit, it is an addiction.

Many smokers want to quit but equally need the right circumstances for their attempts to be sustained.

Specialist Stop Smoking Support is available to anyone interested in quitting smoking. The best time to quit is now because the longer you keep smoking, the more damage you’re doing to your health. Giving up is the greatest single step you can take to improving your health. Once you stop smoking your health improves immediately.

Northern Trust Stop Smoking Service

The Northern Trust Stop Smoking Service offers free, one-to-one support over a 6 to 12 week period to help people successfully quit smoking for good. More specialist, tailored support may be offered through our specialist team. Our specialists will chat to you about your options, help you set a quit date, and discuss what stop smoking medication is available and what would suit you best.

How to contact us

Northern Trust Stop Smoking Service

Telephone: 028 2563 5575

Community pharmacy support

Studies show that you’re four times more likely to quit with help, and if there is a free local stop smoking service near you. Most community pharmacies offer a specialist stop smoking service. Smokers can access free specialist support, including free Nicotine Replacement Therapy from their local pharmacy or GP.

Search for your nearest community pharmacy

Smoking and pregnancy

Smoking makes it harder to get pregnant and increases the risk of complications throughout pregnancy and can damage a baby’s health throughout its life.

Smoking increases the risk of:

miscarriage – 25%
stillbirth – 40%
death of the new born (cot death) – 40%
low birth weight (undeveloped baby) – 300%
premature birth – 200%
premature rupture of the membranes – 300%
foetal malformation (cleft lip, cleft palate) – 30%

When mums-to-be inhale cigarette smoke, babies are exposed to over 4000 chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) through the placenta.

If you are planning a family, pregnant or breastfeeding, stopping smoking, not just cutting down, is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your baby’s health.

It is also important that you do not inhale anyone else’s smoke as this will have the same negative health effects on you and your baby. Use this opportunity to make your home smoke free.

Please contact your midwife if you would like further details on the midwifery specialist stop smoking service.