After 20 minutes

Pulse rate returns to normal. Contrary to common belief you will feel less stressed! Use NRT to tackle the cravings which can be perceived as stress.

After 8 hours

Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by more than half and oxygen levels return to normal.  

After 48 hours

Carbon monoxide and nicotine levels will return to normal. Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris. Ability to taste and smell is improved.  

After 72 hours

Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase. 

After 2-12 weeks

Your circulation improves. No more cold hands and feet.

After 3-9 months

Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%. 

After 1 year

Risk of heart disease is about half compared with a person who is still smoking.

After 10 years   

Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.

After 15 years

Risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked. 

Worried about managing stress, weight, boredom or socialising without a cigarette?

Our advisers can help!

As part of your course with us, we will work with you to identify barriers and solutions to any reason that makes stopping smoking difficult for you

A common fear is that when stopping smoking you may struggle to manage stress.

-When craving a cigarette you may experience anxiety similar to that of stress. After smoking for a long period of time you begin to associate smoking with stress relief.

-Smoking causes many chemical reactions within your body. When smoking you receive nicotine, causing a release of dopamine (the body’s natural reward drug). When combined with a sudden influx of Carbon Monoxide this can give you a fast sense of relaxation. This feeling however is short lived.

Smoking can raise your blood pressure and cause other health risks. Using smoking to self-medicate stress can lead to further cigarette withdrawal symptoms and feelings of anxiety. On top of this, smoking does not deal with the underlying cause of other sources of stress.

The service offers a free programme offering a maximum prescription of either 12 weeks Champix medication OR 8 weeks Zyban medication and nicotine replacement products as appropriate.

Your stop smoking adviser will support your attempt to quit for up to 6 sessions, on either a one-to-one community based programme, via telephone support or through our stop smoking app. For more information contact the Essex Lifestyle service.

Your advisor will offer behavioural and motivational support throughout the process and they will assist you to reduce your reliance on the medication using a “weaning off” process.

For more information contact the Essex Lifestyle service or download the smoking application.

The programme is for anyone who is registered with a GP in Essex, with the exception of Thurrock and Southend areas. For these areas please see the links section.

Clinics are run during the day, in the evening and on Saturdays.

Please share your experience of our service by completing this simple Friends & Family Test (FFT).

To take the FFT click here

If you would like more details on the Friends and Family Test visit our main site here.

To find out more about the Stop Smoking Service available for Southend click here

To find out more about the Stop Smoking Service available for Thurrock click here

The NHS Smokefree website provides free support that will help you to stop smoking, go their website by clicking here.