One in thirteen smokers has a chronic lung disease, according to the figures on smoking published on 31 May. In 2018, 8 percent of smokers reported having a chronic lung disease, such as COPD, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. Among people who had never smoked, this was 2.3 percent.
In 2018, smokers also suffered from acute lung diseases more often than people who had never smoked. The figures come from the Lifestyle Monitor/Health Survey.
Because World No Tobacco Day is one of the major moments of the year to quit smoking, Ik Stop Nu is making extra efforts to reach smokers. Can smokers manage not to smoke for one day on 31 May? And does it leave them wanting more?
Visitors to Ik Stop Nu can join the 31 May smoke-free Facebook group. There, smokers receive tips and advice—from one another as well—to get through 31 May and remain smoke-free afterwards.
Research by Maastricht University shows that there are still many misconceptions about the harmful effects of smoking. It shows that 13 percent of Dutch smokers do not believe that smoking can cause lung cancer.
The same study shows that 44 percent of smokers do not believe that non-smokers can develop lung cancer from passive smoking.