Smoking kills about 80,000 people in England every year – almost enough people to fill Wembley Stadium.
Smokers lose an average of 16 years of life. Quitting means 16 more family Christmases, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries and FA cup finals.
Finding it hard to talk about how you are really feeling? Samaritans is a safe place to turn; it’s anonymous and confidential: 08457 90 90 90 or jo@samaritans.org .
Smokers are more likely to develop polyps in their bowel than non smokers, and some studies show that smokers have a higher risk of bowel cancer, particularly rectal cancer. So giving up smoking can reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
People who are more physically active have a lower risk of colon cancer. Overall, the most active men can reduce their risk of colon cancer by nearly 20 to 30%. And the most active women can reduce their risk by around 10 to 30%.
If something is troubling you, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All chats are completely confidential. You can reach them on 08457 90 90 90 or jo@samaritans.org .
Feeding yourself well goes beyond what you eat. If you are hungry for attention, comfort, understanding, or companionship, turn toward friends and family instead of food.
Our physical resilience depends largely on what we eat, so nutrition is our first line of defense in keeping our immune systems strong.
Exercise is the best way to boost your energy, and encourages better sleep. Exercise releases happy hormones called endorphins which boost our mood, so it’s a win:win situation.
Call 111 if you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency, you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service, you don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call, or you need health information or reassurance about what to do next.