Smokers across Derbyshire are being urged to give quitting a go ahead of No Smoking Day as research shows those who smoke are more likely to develop dementia.
Derbyshire County Council is supporting No Smoking Day, which is running on Wednesday (8 March).
The annual awareness day encourages smokers to make a quit attempt and this year’s theme is 'stopping smoking protects your brain health'.
The percentage of Derbyshire residents aged 18 and over who currently smoke is 13.9 per cent, with the highest rates being in Bolsover and Chesterfield.
The council offers free stop smoking support to all Derbyshire residents through its Live Life Better Derbyshire service.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carl Hart, said: “Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve both your short and long-term health.
“The negative impacts of smoking on your lungs are well known, but the impact on your brain health is not as widely known.
“So, if you’re ready to quit for good this year then our Live Life Better Derbyshire service is on hand to offer free, local support.”
YouGov data commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed only 18 per cent of people who smoke in the East Midlands know that smoking increases the risk of dementia, compared to 80 per cent who know that smoking causes lung diseases.
Smoking raises the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain.
Studies also suggest that quitting smoking reduces this risk substantially, and smoking has been identified as one of 12 risk factors that if eliminated entirely, could collectively prevent or delay up to 40 per cent of dementia cases.
To find out more about free, 12 week stop smoking support, call 0800 085 2299 or visit www.livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk
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