Smoking has an extremely harmful effect on all of the body, particularly the heart, lungs and blood system (including the blood system in the brain). Smokers are almost twice as likely to develop dementia as non-smokers. Therefore, if you smoke, stopping could be a fantastic way to generally improve your health and reduce your risk of dementia.
Healthy Lifestyles Warwickshire provides stop smoking support through a free 12-week programme with expert support and stop-smoking aids. They also offer support for weight management, physical activity and alcohol advice. Quitting smoking can be up to three times easier if you do it through these services rather than going it alone.
Smoke Free Coventry & Warwickshire offers resources and tips for those looking to stop smoking.
The Smoke Free app can provide digital quit tools and other useful support, all from your phone at a time that works well for you.
You can also get support to stop smoking from your GP practice (nhs.uk) through both face-to-face and virtual support from trained stop smoking advisors, plus free resources.
If you are pregnant, there are also specific resources to support you at Tommy’s (the pregnancy and baby charity).
If you have quit, there is also support available to help you stay smoke free (nhs.uk).
Find out more about the link between smoking and dementia at alzheimers.org.