Established as a health awareness day in 1984 and taking place each year on the second Wednesday in March, No Smoking Day has helped to educate smokers about the dangers associated with tobacco products. SMOKING: HEALTH RISKS According to the British Heart Foundation, tobacco contains more than 5,000 chemicals, many of which can cause cancer, carbon monoxide and ammonia poisoning and, over time, can cause heart attacks, strokes, and diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease. The NHS also regards smoking as the biggest preventable cause of death in the UK. "Stopping smoking is one of the best things you'll ever do for your health. When you stop, you give your lungs the chance to repair and you'll be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too - and they start almost immediately. It's never too late to quit. Let's do this!" NHS England, Quit Smoking As well as harming yourself, smoking cigarettes can have a direct impact on those around you. When smoking a cigarette, lots of smoke goes into the air around you for others to breathe in. Those who breathe in second-hand smoke are susceptible to the same diseases as smokers. VAPING 101 According to Public Health England, vaping is reportedly 95% less harmful than cigarettes. Data from the University of Dundee’s 2019 study also found that within a month of switching from tobacco products to e-cigarettes, blood pressure, blood vessel health and stiffness of arteries started to improve. Nicotine withdrawal The most common side effect from quitting smoking is from the withdrawal of nicotine – a highly addictive substance. The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal for smokers can begin as little as 30 minutes after your last cigarette, although this varies between smokers. E-liquids are available in varying nicotine strengths, allowing vapers to start with a higher nicotine intake and gradually lessen the strength as time goes on. Saving you money While vaping is undoubtedly less harmful than cigarettes, it also costs less. For the average person that smokes 10 cigarettes per day, vaping could save them an impressive £1,494.96 per year! Use our savings calculator to calculate the amount of money you could save.