Take the leap and quit on National No Smoking Day

SMOKERS in Swansea can see how long-term smoking can affect their appearance when they get old.

Hi-tech imaging software is being used by Swansea Council Health Promotion Officers to speed-up the ageing process of smokers by creating an image of what they could look like in future years if they continue the habit.

National No Smoking Day takes place on Wednesday March 14 when events all over the UK will taske place in a bid to encourage more people to take the leap and give up for good.

In Swansea, a Welsh health survey carried out in 2009 highlighted 23% of adults smoked. A community survey of 6,000 children between 11 and 16 was conducted a year earlier in 2008. The results of that showed 27% had smoked a cigarette.

The public can visit the promotional stand in Swansea Civic Centre on March 14 and take part in the campaign.

Chris Steele, Swansea Council's Health Promotion Coordinator, said: "In Swansea our last survey highlighted almost a quarter of adults in the city smoke.

"Prolonged smoking is known to speed-up the ageing process in people and the software programme will be able to illustrate the difference in skin condition of a smoker at a set age compared to their same age if they didn't smoke.

"The technology we will be using on the day will give smokers a fairly accurate idea of how they could look in future years if they continue smoking, compared to if they give up.

"Many of those who smoke also want to quit but find it difficult. This year, the national No Smoking Campaign called Take the Leap will offer help and support for smokers who want to quit."

For more information about National No Smoking Day or to get advice about giving up smoking visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk

Stop Smoking Wales (0800 085 2219) can provide one-to-one or group support. The Smokers Helpline (0800 169 0 169) is also on hand to offer friendly, easy to understand information on how you can quit.

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This page last updated on March 14 2012