No Smoking Day is on the second Wednesday in March every year, This years theme is ”Stopping smoking protects your brain health” While it’s never too late to make positive changes, keeping your heart healthy seems to be particularly important for helping to reduce your risk of dementia. The same chemicals which cause damage to the heart also cause damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s Research UK whose research shows dementia is the most feared health condition for people over the age of 55 – more than any other life-threatening disease including cancer and diabetes. Only 18% of smokers know that smoking causes dementia, compared to over 70% who know that smoking causes lung diseases and cancers.
Smokers in are being urged to give quitting a go ahead of No Smoking Day as research shows those who smoke are more likely to develop dementia.
The annual awareness day encourages smokers to make a quit attempt and this year’s theme is ‘stopping smoking protects your brain health’.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia is the most feared health condition for people over the age of 55 – more than any other life-threatening disease including cancer and diabetes.
Yet YouGov data commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed 18% of people who smoke know that smoking increases the risk of dementia, compared to 70% who know that smoking causes lung diseases or cancers.
It raises the risk of developing dementia , particularly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. It can harm the vascular system (heart and blood vessels) and the brain. Studies also suggest that quitting reduces this risk substantially. If eliminated entirely, could collectively prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.
However, data from Alzheimer’s Research UK show 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.
Visit OneyouPlymouth for information on how to quit smoking. They also offer telephone consultations and face to face appointments so they can support you through your smoke free journey.
You can also contact your GP practice to speak to your practice nurse or GP.
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