Smokers Encouraged To Stub Out

Smokers are exposing their loved ones to the dangers of passive smoking, according to a British Heart Foundation Scotland survey.

It found that more than a third of people are regularly lighting up in the home. 

The charity has released a range of statistics on this year’s No Smoking Day and is urging smokers to put their families first by attempting to quit, starting today.

The survey also found that, despite the health risks of passive smoking, the majority of Scots surveyed were more worried about the health of the smoker (62%) than the effect of passive smoking on their own health (27%). This concern has led to more than half (57%) of loved ones pleading with the smoker in their lives to quit.

The survey found that almost one in five (19%) are under the misapprehension that opening a window offers them protection from cigarette smoke’s harmful effects.

Experts say passive smoke leads to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, and other health problems such as asthma. The effects on children are particularly harmful and passive smoking appears to more than double the risk of developing bacterial meningitis. The majority of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke are invisible and opening a window does little to prevent the harms of passive smoking reaching other people.

BHF Associate Medical Director, Dr Mike Knapton, commented: “Every week, thousands of children are exposed to passive smoke in enclosed spaces, putting them at greater risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and sudden infant death. Simply opening a window does not protect your children from breathing in harmful chemicals.

“Smoking is not healthy for smokers or for the people around them. If you’re a smoker and looking to quit, contact your pharmacist or local stop smoking team on No Smoking Day for information and advice. Join the nearly one million smokers in the UK who are expected to quit this No Smoking Day.”

Hamad-ul Rahman, a 35-year-old ex-smoker, said: “I started smoking at fourteen because I saw my dad smoke. By the time I was in my 20s I was smoking 20-30 a day.”

“When my wife and I got married I started to cut back with her support, and when she became pregnant with our first daughter, I decided to quit for good. I wanted to be an example to my kids, and I also wanted to be able to run about with them. Quitting smoking was the hardest thing of ever done, but I’m so glad that I did.”

BHF Scotland is currently supporting proposed legislation to ban smoking in cars where children are present, and backs the Scottish Government’s ambition for a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

An estimated one million smokers will make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day. The campaign, now in its 32nd year, is one of the biggest UK public health awareness campaigns. To receive information and support on stopping smoking visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk