Giving up smoking for your New Year's resolution? Local stop smoking service Smokefree Ealing is holding a series of events to encourage residents to quit for January.

The national Health Harms campaign started on January 1, and highlights the debilitating nature of serious lung diseases for which smoking can increase risk, after the latest GP figures reveal that the number of people diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Ealing reached 3,514 in 2014-15.

COPD is the umbrella term for serious lung conditions that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD have difficulties breathing, due to the narrowing of their airways and destruction of lung tissue.

Smokefree Ealing service manager Johnny Nota said smokers often dismiss the early signs of COPD as a "smoker's cough", but if they continue smoking and the condition worsens, it can greatly impact on their quality of life.

Ealing Councillor for East Acton Hitesh Tailor said: "COPD may not be well known but it can be a serious and severely devastating disease, dramatically affecting people's lives and leading to years of suffering.

"The single best thing a smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing this devastating disease is to stop smoking.

"January is a time when many people make new year's resolutions and resolving to stop smoking is the best thing you can do not only for your health but for the health of those around you."

In January a team of specialists from Smokefree Ealing will be running events at different locations across the Ealing borough to raise awareness of the Health Harms Campaign and encourage smokers to quit for good.

Smokers will receive free "quit kits" which will include Nicotine replacement products. In addition, the service will offer free blood pressure checks and Carbon Monoxide tests on the day. The Acton event will also showcase a "Juice Bike" to promote the importance of exercise and health eating.

Smokefree Ealing events will be held every Saturday from January 16 to February 6 from 11am to 4pm.

Smokefree Ealing events:

  • Saturday January 16: Acton High Street, outside Morrison's Supermarket

  • Saturday January 23: Greenford Broadway High Street, near Greenford Hall

  • Saturday January 30: Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre

  • Saturday February 6: Hanwell High Street, near the Clock Tower

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Could you go smoke free for January?

For more details of the support available from Smokefree Ealing, call 0800 876 6683 or visit the website.