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More smokers than ever are beating addiction
MORE smokers are kicking the habit than ever before - but health chiefs warn too many people are still slaves to nicotine.
South Central NHS, which includes all of Hampshire, as well as the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, has recorded 15,799 people contacted them to quit smoking in the year to March 2010, nine per cent more than in the previous 12 months.
And 8,748 of those managed to quit within four weeks, an increase of 10 per cent.
But the Strategic Health Authority says the figures mustn't hide the fact that too many people still rely on cigarettes.
John Newton, the authority's regional director of public health, said: 'Giving up smoking is the single most useful thing a smoker can do to improve their health. After 72 hours, breathing becomes easier, the skin's appearance improves after a month, and after a year the risk of a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker.
'It's vital we continue to make smokers aware just how easy it is to get support.
'Willpower is important, but nicotine is a drug and many people find giving up a struggle. Help is available.'
Anyone interested in giving up can call 08001690169, to find the nearest Stop Smoking service.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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