A healthier heart starts today as the HSE urges smokers in Dublin South and Wicklow to break up with cigarettes this Valentine’s Day

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by choosing National No Smoking Day on Ash Wednesday (18 February) as your QUIT date.

The HSE is reminding people in the Dublin South and Wicklow area that HSE Stop Smoking Advisors are ready to help you start your QUIT plan and support you along the way.

HSE QUIT services are free and available all year round. The QUIT service provides personalised, evidence-based plans, tailored to your needs, using any combination of the support options:

• Free one to one behavioural support with a trained stop smoking advisor,

• Carbon Monoxide Testing,

• Access to free Stop Smoking Medications,

• Follow up appointments for one full year.

Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer and Lead for Tobacco and Smoking Cessation in the Dublin South and Wicklow area Colleen Fahey, says:

“Smoking is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes. If you smoke, quitting can greatly lower your risk. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Both are serious, life-threatening emergencies.

We are encouraging people to consider giving up smoking today and give their heart and health a chance with the support of the HSE QUIT programme.”

“One of the highs of my entire adult life….my heart feels fuller.”

Having smoked since the age of 18 years, Punam Murmu, from Dublin, has recently celebrated one year without cigarettes. “As I was reflecting on the year and the highs and lows, this has been one of the highs of my entire adult life.”

“I began my sessions with HSE advisor Nuala Cody, who has been incredibly supportive from day one….Reaching out for help was truly half the battle won. The other half was made possible through consistent care, encouragement and regular check-ins.”

QUIT journey challenge

“After starting the service, I moved…into a house with smokers. I shared this concern with Nuala. She acknowledged the difficulty without sugar-coating it and reminded me of the strength I had already shown in overcoming the core addiction. Together, we discussed practical steps forward, one of which was truly believing that I was a non-smoker and embodying that identity. I did just that. Fast forward to today, I am proud to say I am a non-smoker.”

Advice for smokers

“To anyone considering quitting, my advice is this: you are only one step away from your destination - a smoke-free life. Once you take that first step, every step after becomes a victory. You are not alone on this journey. There will be guidance, support and understanding along the way. Looking back, I can see just how supported I was.

“The benefits I have experienced after being smoke-free for one year are great. I have returned to healthier habits such as meditation, yoga and brisk walks outdoors. I am more present with people and more engaged in social spaces, no longer preoccupied with where the smoking area is or when I will have my next cigarette. My mind feels clearer, my body feels lighter and my heart feels fuller.”

ENDs

Free stop smoking clinics are available in HSE Primary Care Centres across Dublin South and Wicklow. To find out more:

· Visit Quit.ie today to find your local clinic.

· Email: Quit.DublinSouthWicklow@hse.ie

· Or phone: (087) 092 7225

Top tips for quitting smoking successfully:

• Don’t feel you need to go it alone. HSE QUIT is there for you, to help you take this step with simple, practical and effective help, maximising your chance of staying quit for good. Staff will provide non-judgemental support and encouragement.
• Focus on the goal to stay smoke-free for one day at a time until you get to 28 days. Once people get to that goal, they are up to five times more likely to stay quit for good.
• Use stop-smoking medicine, like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This is a safe, effective and clinically sound way of dealing with cravings.