Make it a smokefree home for your family this Ramadan
Support for Greater Manchester residents for a smokefree Ramadan
Give quitting a go to feel the benefits of better health and reduce the risks of a smoking-related disease – that’s the message to Greater Manchester residents during the holy month of Ramadan.
As Muslims observe Ramadan, the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership is calling on everyone taking part to make a quit attempt.
While fasting during daylight hours, people will also refrain from smoking, which is why getting the right support is so important to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Support to quit is available from local NHS stop smoking services, GPs and pharmacies, as well as the
Quitting smoking has a great number of benefits to health, including reducing risk of heart disease, stroke, lung conditions and at least 15 different types of cancer, as well as improving mental health. Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 symptoms and smokers are more likely to attend hospital than non-smokers, a study has found.
Research shows that if someone tries to stop smoking at least once a year, it improves their chances of quitting for good – and now is the ideal time to give it a go. It is also an opportunity to prepare a smokefree home and protect loved ones from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
The best time for someone to stop smoking is when they are about to break their usual routines, and it is absolutely the right time now as the Muslim community observes the holy month of Ramadan.
Happe Hoque, Health & Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Be Well Tameside, said:
“Ramadan is a great time to try to quit smoking, and we’re encouraging people to get all the support they need.
“At this time of year daylight can last for more than 15 hours. Even after this amount of time the benefits from not smoking are starting to happen in your body. These include blood pressure and pulse returning to normal, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reducing by half and oxygen levels in the blood returning to normal.
“Going 15 hours without a cigarette is an achievement in itself, so why not stop altogether? Even if you’ve tried to quit before, don’t be put off trying again. It can often take a few times before you’ll succeed and your body, including your lungs, will benefit immediately once you stop smoking tobacco. Stopping smoking will also protect loved ones around you from breathing in secondhand smoke. The great news is that there are more ways to quit than ever before.”
Ramadan is a challenging but rewarding month and stopping smoking altogether will help to ease withdrawals and cravings.
Dr Muna Ibrahim Abdel Aziz, Director of Public Health for Salford, said:
“We are passionate about supporting everyone to get the right support to stop smoking as soon as possible. We know that smoking increases the risk of severe COVID as well as all the other health risks and costs.
“The best time for someone to stop smoking is when they are about to break their usual routines, and it is absolutely the right time now as the Muslim community observes the holy month of Ramadan.
“Ramadan is a challenging but rewarding month and stopping smoking altogether will help to ease withdrawals and cravings. The benefits to your health, creating a home free of smoke for your family and saving money, will put you in the best possible place to enjoy a smokefree Ramadan. With the help of your local stop smoking NHS service you can quit successfully and make this a special Ramadan for you and your family.”
Benefits of a Smokefree Ramadan:
- A month of not buying cigarettes means more money saved. Check out the savings calculator to see how much you can save.
- Within a few days of stopping smoking your taste buds start to recover, meaning you can enjoy your food better.
- After being smokefree for a month, your heart and lungs begin to recover and you are less likely to suffer a heart attack.
- Normal routines are broken during the month of Ramadan, which gives you the chance to break your addiction to smoking.
- Abstaining from smoking during daylight hours means you’re already halfway there. Why not harness this willpower and determination to quit smoking for good!
Find details of local stop smoking services and support across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, or call the NHS Stop Smoking helpline free on 0300 123 1044.