5 June 2008

Smokers Come Out of their Comfort Zone

20 smokers from the Armagh and Dungannon area have taken part in a six week challenge to give up and come out of their comfort zone.

Maggie Murtagh from Armagh won a break at the Comfort Hotel, Antrim for having the best attendance and succeeding in the challenge.

Maggie, who was a smoker for many years says:”When we smoke we don’t see, or want to see, the damaging effect it has on our health and lives.

“I watched both my parents suffer from strokes. As their health deteriorated, the worry caused me to smoke more. I was already suffering from my own health issues and my smoking just increased. I called this comfort smoking. I was, in fact, causing myself more health problems as every cigarette I smoked put 4,000 dangerous chemicals into my body.”

Maggie tried giving up a number of times but was unsuccessful. She then sought professional help at the Smoking Cessation Clinic at Armagh Community Hospital.

“From day one I was aware of how vital the support, guidance and understanding of the clinic would be in helping me. I found the clinic such a welcoming environment where I just had to succeed and felt I would be letting the team and myself down if I didn’t.

“My advice to anyone wanting to give up smoking should be to contact a Smoking Cessation Clinic where the staff are ready, willing and able to assist. I would like to say a big thank you to the team because I can now say that I don’t smoke.”

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust offers a wide range of free support and advice for those who want to try to stop smoking. For further information:

Armagh and Dungannon Tel: 028 3741 2468

Craigavon and Banbridge Tel: 028 3839 8235

Newry and Mourne Tel: 028 3083 4325