Vaping Encouraged For No Smoking Day

Switching from smoking to vaping is one of the key strategies being encouraged on National No Smoking Day, being coordinated by the Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health. The annual event will take place on 8th March and organisers have been quick to point out the links between smoking and dementia, something that can be reduced by substituting electronic cigarettes for tobacco products.

What is No Smoking Day?
No Smoking Day is an annual awareness day which “encourages smokers to make a quit attempt”.

This year’s theme is ‘stopping smoking protects your brain health’.

Protecting brain health?
Alzheimer’s Research UK says dementia is the most feared health condition for people over the age of 55. This means people are more concerned about suffering from the disease than they are from cancer and diabetes.

Anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health commissioned YouGov to conduct research on its behalf and discovered that only 18% of smokers know that there is a link between smoking and an increased risk of dementia. This compares very unfavourably with the fact that over 70% appreciate smoking causes lung diseases and cancers.

Action on Smoking and Health says: “Smoking raises the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as it harms the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain.

Alzheimer’s Research UK says: “Only a third of UK adults know there are things they can do to help reduce their risk of dementia and stopping smoking is one of them.”

Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, a neuroscientist and dementia prevention expert based at Imperial College London, said: “If you smoke, quitting is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect both your heart and your brain. It really can be life changing. It’s fantastic that brain health is the theme of No Smoking Day 2023. Initiatives like this are so important in raising awareness of the steps we can take to help keep the brain healthy.”

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, commented: “No Smoking Day is the perfect time to quit smoking when thousands of other people are stopping too. There are many ways to stop from nicotine replacement therapy to vaping and free local support to stop smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to succeed in quitting with help from a trained professional than with willpower alone.”

What part does vaping play in No Smoking Day?
The National No Smoking Day website states: “using other sources of nicotine such as e-cigarettes…can double your chances of successfully stopping smoking.”

The organisers of the event include the following advice: “Many people find vaping products help them successfully stop smoking. Also known as e-cigarettes they have been shown to be effective. While not risk-free, vaping is much less harmful than continuing to smoke. Vaping products are available in supermarkets and pharmacists, and you can buy online from specialist sho