What is Stoptober?

Stoptober is a campaign by Public Health England. As the name suggests, it takes part over the month of October, and issues a challenge to smokers across the country: quit smoking in 28 days.

This number was first proposed by Public Health England based on studies showing that those able to break their smoking habit for 28 days are more likely to stop smoking for good. The Coronavirus pandemic has given the nation pause to reflect on the health implications of our habits.

Now, Stoptober has been incorporated as part of the overarching NHS Better Health campaign, and is one of four pillars alongside ‘Lose Weight,’ ‘Get Active,’ and ‘Drink Less.

What happens when you stop smoking?

Like any drug, nicotine creates dependence. People who stop using nicotine can experience moderate to extreme withdrawal symptoms which range from nausea, headaches, anxiety, and weight gain, to name just a few side effects.

Despite this, quitting cigarettes is the first step on the journey to becoming a happier and healthier person. Although it can be difficult for people who have recently quit smoking to see a silver lining, there are a host of positive side effects. To see the full breakdown, check out our Stop Smoking Timeline. After just 24 hours, the carbon monoxide caused by cigarettes will be dispelled from your system. This means that the mucus in your lungs will slowly clear, and that your sense of smell will drastically improve.

People who suffer from poor circulation caused by smoking will be able to experience improvements in just two to twelve weeks. This positive side effect feeds into the symbiotic relationship between smoking and exercise; not only does quitting smoking make exercise more effective, but exercise itself can be an effective tool for quitting smoking. People who have smoked for a decade or two have grown accustomed to feeling lethargic, meaning that when they stop smoking they feel like they have a new lease on life.

After a year of quitting cigarettes, an ex-smoker’s chance of having a heart attack is cut in half. This is one of the most unbelievable benefits of stopping smoking, which can be achieved through joining Stoptober support groups and sticking to the 28-day plan.

28 Days Challenge Stoptober 2023 Support on offer?

Given the challenges posed by the emergence of COVID-19, it is important for smokers to create a personal timeline for quitting smoking, and to stick to it. Luckily, a whole host of public health organisations know that this feat cannot be accomplished alone.

The Stoptober app for Apple iOS and Android was developed to encourage people to continue their 28-day mission. It provides inspiring messages and shows a running total of how much money people can save when they stop smoking. Participants can also join the NHS Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook. This provides a good opportunity for smokers to talk to like minded individuals about the difficulties they face when quitting smoking.

The team at myCigara put you, our customers, at the heart of our business, which is why we will always do our utmost to provide you with expert advice on vaping. Vaping is a proven, effective and viable method for quitting smoking, and we want everyone to have access to reliable facts and advice, so that they can determine whether vaping is right for them. If you’re ready to start the transition from smoking to vaping, we recommend looking through our handy Facts & Statistics page, and then moving on to our Basic Guide to Vaping.

We understand that transitioning from smoking to vaping can be overwhelming. That’s why we employ people who are always happy to help. Use our store locator to find the nearest myCigara shop to you and speak face to face with one of our friendly staff members who can answer all of your vaping questions.

Stoptober 2023 at myCigara

At myCigara, we exist to make the UK smoke-free. That’s why we offer premium vaping products as a proven, viable alternative to quitting smoking, and it’s why we put the customer journey at the forefront of everything we do.

If vaping in general is all pretty new to you, we’d recommend starting with our general landing page —the aptly named ‘New to Vaping.’ This will give you a good general overview of the topic, and provides further links to our other handy tips and guides. If you’d like to hear from our customers about how vaping has helped them successfully quit smoking, then head over to our Testimonials page.