Press release : COPD kills more women than breast cancer
This year's No Smoking Day theme has been developed with smokers themselves. They told us that they are experiencing uncomfortable internal conflict about smoking…internal conflict worsened by sense of addiction, powerlessness and feeling trapped. Its not surprising therefore that most smokers want to quit, escape the chains of addiction, and No Smoking Day is here to make sure they stand the best possible chance of success. So that's why this year's theme with it's striking and symbolic image of arms breaking free from a chain of cigarettes, and strap line - Break free, we can help, resonated so much with the smoker focus groups we talked to. The theme is empowering, positive, supportive.
As part of this year’s campaign we have joined forces with the British Lung Foundation to promote awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). At least 70% of COPD sufferers have been or are smokers and no other treatment apart from quitting is needed if caught in the early stages of the disease. In mild cases, symptoms like a cough, phlegm and shortness of breath may only be present during the winter or after a cold. So it is common for people to have early stages COPD but not know it and more importantly, not seek help.
A striking fact is that COPD is not only the
Forty-eight year old Jeannette New, a mother of three adult offspring, smokes and is diagnosed with COPD. She kindly agreed to help us raise awareness of the dangers of smoking.
She had first identified a problem, about 12 months ago where a lung function test, had been carried out twice and is using a ventalin inhaler along with being on long term sickness. The lung disease has left her restricted in terms of using the stairs frequently as well as walking quickly. Generally she is unable to rush around as previously.
An article about how Jeannette’s life has been impacted by COPD will be appear in a March edition of That’s Life Magazine to coincide with No Smoking Day.
No Smoking Day 2009 saw 1 in 10 smokers kick the habit, that's an impressive 900,000 people! And in this, the campaign’s 27th year, we're expecting even more to take part on 10 March 2010.
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Note to editors
No Smoking Day, organised by a charity of the same name, is run by four full time staff. Based in
No Smoking Day aims to help people who want to stop smoking by creating a supportive environment for them, and by highlighting the many sources of help available to people who want to quit.
Now in its 27th year it is a firm fixture in the
For further
Out of office press mobile: 07770 657 241
For more information on No Smoking Day go to www.nosmokingday.org.uk