Whittington Health backs campaign encouraging smokers to quit in the New Year
Whittington Health is backing a new hard-hitting campaign highlighting the impact and serious damage that smoking causes the body.
The new Public Health England campaign, supported by TV advertising, brings to life the toxic cycle of dirty blood caused by inhaling the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes, including arsenic and cyanide flowing through the body and damaging major organs. The chemicals move through the heart, the lungs and into the bloodstream, finally damaging cells in the brain. Along with the heart and lungs, the brain is particularly vulnerable to these toxins, leading to a faster decline in functionality and an increased risk of stroke and dementia.
New adverts, which form part of the campaign, show a hand-rolled cigarette with rotting flesh instead of tobacco, with the message that smoking rots you from the inside out. The adverts – appearing across traditional and digital billboards and via a short online film – highlight how smoking has a degenerative effect on the whole body, similar to the effects of rot.
Dr Myra Stern, consultant in respiratory medicine at Whittington Health, said: “Quitting smoking is tough but it is also the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health.
“This campaign highlights the damage and danger of smoking. This New Year is a perfect time to quit smoking and protect yourself from a stroke, dementia, lung and heart problems.”
“Whittington Health’s Smokefree Islington service is able to provide personalised support and advice to support you as you stop smoking.”
For personalised support in quitting smoking, visit http://www.smokefreeislington.nhs.uk/
Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that smokers are twice as likely to die from a stroke than non-smokers [1]. Smoking can cause the arteries to narrow which, in turn, increases the likelihood of blood clots that can lead to a stroke.
Studies also suggest that smoking accelerates cognitive decline in men[2] and women[3] leading smokers to experience poorer memory and a greater decline in reasoning in later life.
The risk of dementia, along with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are further increased when smoking is combined with any or all of heavy drinking, poor diet, lack of exercise and high blood pressure[4][5].
The new Public Health England campaign, supported by TV advertising, brings to life the toxic cycle of dirty blood caused by inhaling the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes, including arsenic and cyanide flowing through the body and damaging major organs. The chemicals move through the heart, the lungs and into the bloodstream, finally damaging cells in the brain. Along with the heart and lungs, the brain is particularly vulnerable to these toxins, leading to a faster decline in functionality and an increased risk of stroke and dementia.
New adverts, which form part of the campaign, show a hand-rolled cigarette with rotting flesh instead of tobacco, with the message that smoking rots you from the inside out. The adverts – appearing across traditional and digital billboards and via a short online film – highlight how smoking has a degenerative effect on the whole body, similar to the effects of rot.
Dr Myra Stern, consultant in respiratory medicine at Whittington Health, said: “Quitting smoking is tough but it is also the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health.
“This campaign highlights the damage and danger of smoking. This New Year is a perfect time to quit smoking and protect yourself from a stroke, dementia, lung and heart problems.”
“Whittington Health’s Smokefree Islington service is able to provide personalised support and advice to support you as you stop smoking.”
For personalised support in quitting smoking, visit http://www.smokefreeislington.nhs.uk/
Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that smokers are twice as likely to die from a stroke than non-smokers [1]. Smoking can cause the arteries to narrow which, in turn, increases the likelihood of blood clots that can lead to a stroke.
Studies also suggest that smoking accelerates cognitive decline in men[2] and women[3] leading smokers to experience poorer memory and a greater decline in reasoning in later life.
The risk of dementia, along with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are further increased when smoking is combined with any or all of heavy drinking, poor diet, lack of exercise and high blood pressure[4][5].
Last updated06 Jan 2015