More people are expected to try to stop smoking today, National No Smoking Day, than in previous years, because Ash Wednesday falls so early in the year, according to anti-smoking campaigners.
January 1st and Ash Wednesday are traditionally the most popular days for smokers to try to quit. The Irish Cancer Society said it expected today would be a popular choice as it came so soon after January 1st, when the determination to quit might still be strong.
Norma Cronin, the cancer society's health promotion manager for tobacco control, said the National Smokers Quitline (1850 201 203) was much busier than in previous years. "It received over 100 calls a week since January. That's a huge increase in volume as it would normally get about 20 or 30 calls a week," she said.
Some 24 per cent of Irish adults smoke - a reduction of one per cent since the workplace smoking ban was introduced in 2004.
Ms Cronin said she did not expect an increase in the Irish smoking rate because of the increase in the number of east Europeans living here. Last week, the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society published research showing that more than half of all Polish people living in this State are smokers, and they are more likely to smoke than Poland-based citizens.
The survey of 1,545 Polish people living here found that 61 per cent of males and 47 per cent of females are smokers.
Yesterday, Nicorette released the results of its Millward Brown IMS survey which found some 44 per cent of current smokers do not want to quit. And 51 per cent said they enjoyed almost every cigarette they smoked. Some 47 per cent said health would be the main reason why they would stop smoking.
The Irish Cancer Society is using National No Smoking Day to highlight the risks that smoking poses to sports enthusiasts. Research shows smokers are less likely to participate in sports and physical activity because it requires much more effort if people smoke.
"Smoking just a single cigarette can immediately affect physical capability in exercise when the inhaled carbon monoxide binds to red blood cells, displacing oxygen and preventing its delivery to muscle cells," Ms Cronin said.
"At the same time smoking constricts blood vessels, which prevents the proper redistribution of blood and oxygen to the muscles during exercise."
