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Are you a smoker? Would you like to stop? Did you know your trusty mobile phone can help you quit? Stopping smoking is considered one of the very best things you can do for your health, and the health of those around you. So this ‘Stoptober’ is a great time to kick the habit. Read our pick of the best apps to help you stub out those cigarettes for good!

You'll see the benefits almost immediately, not only on your health but also on your finances. Who knows, you could even save enough in a year to afford one of the latest flagship phones!

If you do, you’ll need to protect it against theft, loss, breakdown or damage. Or you could see your hard-earned cash going up in smoke! Call Gadget Cover today and check you have the right mobile phone insurance to protect your investment.

What is Stoptober?

Stoptober is an annual mass quit smoking event led by Public Health England (PHE). The aim of the campaign is to encourage as many smokers as possible to quit for at least 28 days in October. Scientific research has demonstrated that if a smoker quits for 28 days, then they're five times more likely to quit for good.

Since 2012, PHE says the campaign has driven over 2.3 million people to try to quit. If even a small proportion of those people stop smoking permanently, then the campaign will have been a success.

Every year the PHE team looks to offer a new way to help create awareness, interest, and engagement among smokers.

Why should I stop smoking?

If you’re a smoker, then chances are you’re already well aware of the harm smoking causes to you and those around you. But while you know it’s damaging physically, mentally, and emotionally, it’s still very difficult to stop.

It’s the nicotine in tobacco that’s so addictive. But the smoke itself also contains a bewildering array of over 5,000 chemicals, many of which can lead to cancer. While others such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and ammonia are highly poisonous.

And when you smoke, it’s not just your lungs you’re damaging. These chemicals pass into your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. Affecting every single organ – from your hair and skin to your heart and your brain.

According to the British Lung Foundation, smoking tobacco is the biggest avoidable cause of death in the UK today. As well as emphysema, bronchitis, lung disease, and cancer, smoking also causes heart attacks and strokes. In fact, according to the NHS every year around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking. With many more living with debilitating diseases caused by smoking. Indeed, on average, smokers live 10 years less than non-smokers.

But it’s not only the smoker who suffers harm, those nearest and dearest to them will also be affected by their decision to continue smoking. Second-hand smoke is particularly dangerous to babies and children as their lungs are far more vulnerable to breathing in toxic materials.

Passive smoking causes almost 3,800 deaths annually in the UK alone. While scientists at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva also believe it could be to blame for as much as one in every 100 deaths worldwide!

If you quit, it’s not just the big reduction in health risks you could benefit from. Did you know that if you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, quitting could save you over £275 a month? That's over £3,000 in a year! You could buy you and your family some top of the range phone gear for that!

We know that just like any habit, smoking is difficult to stop. But, by reading this article and signing up to one of the great apps below, you’re already taking one step toward your journey to better health.

Why is it so hard to stop smoking?

So, when the benefits of stopping smoking are so clear, why is it so hard for people to stop smoking? The reasons behind this can be complex but it really comes down to the smoker’s nicotine addiction, often begun at a very young age. Unfortunately, over many years cigarettes have been designed and marketed to make people want to smoke more.

When you smoke, the nicotine is rapidly absorbed into your body. As you stop smoking, the nicotine levels drop and your body begins to crave a cigarette. Kicking the smoking habit successfully requires you to control those urges and change your daily routines.

That’s why Stoptober is such a great opportunity to work towards ridding your life of the need to smoke. And it’s having an effect. According to the NHS, less adults are smoking than they used to. According to the Office for National Statistics around 14.1% of UK adults are smokers, down from 19.8% a decade ago.

But quitting smoking isn’t always as easy as stubbing out your last cigarette. Many smokers need help and support to do it. Indeed, the BLF says only about 1% of all people who try to quit without any support will be successful. The rest will go back to smoking. Here are some of the best stop smoking apps designed to help you lead a smoke-free life.

Best apps to help you quit

NHS Quit Smoking on iOS and Android

This free 28-day programme can be used by anyone at any time of year and puts practical support, encouragement and advice at your fingertips. Great features include daily motivational messages, tips to help you manage cravings and a savings calculator to show how much money you're saving.

It also lets you keep a record of your motivations for quitting. Whether it’s a list of health benefits or a picture of your children, being reminded of why you’re giving up is a useful motivator. The app has a brand-new look for this year and now also enables people who smoke roll ups to easily chart their progress.

Kwit on iOS and Android

Stopping smoking doesn’t have to be a slog. With the Kwit app you could even turn it into a game. The app uses various ingenious game techniques and thinking to encourage you to confront your craving.

Unlock achievements, complete milestones and move up the rankings with a bit of healthy competition. The app also lets you share your achievements on social media so you can encourage others to get involved, too. A tobacco-free, happier and healthier life awaits you!

A useful feature of Kwit is it’s not just confined to those quitting cigarettes. It can also help you kick other nicotine sources and vaping. And if you’re experiencing a craving? Simply shake your phone and the app will come up with a helpful motivation card to keep going. It also lets you make a note of those dreaded cravings so you keep a record of any triggers that might cause a relapse.

The free version of Kwit gives you access to all you need to quit smoking. If you need more, Kwit Premium costs £8.99 a month.

QuitNow! on iOS and Android

If you’re looking for some support from people who know what you’re going through then QuitNow! might be right for you. This app uses the huge community of ex-smokers who have successfully quit using the app to help you along your journey. Offering help and encouragement to new starters, spending time with non-smokers who understand your struggle will help make your journey to a smoke-free life more manageable.

Features include a daily clock recording your life as an ex-smoker to show you how much money you’ve saved and cigarettes avoided. Using WHO indicators the app will also show you how your health is improving as each day without cigarettes passes.

Quit Vaping on iOS​

Vapes or so-called e-cigarettes have grown rapidly in popularity over the past 10 years as many smokers try to move away from cigarettes. However, while they're understood to be less harmful than smoking, there are still concerns on the potential harm they could cause to users’ bodies.

So, many users of vapes are now thinking about quitting them, too. And that’s where the Quit Vaping app comes in so handy. Keep track of vape-free days, nicotine and e-juice avoided, and find out the health and financial benefits you’re enjoying. Quit Vaping has a good community of other users so you can team up with friends and quit together as part of their buddy system.

Unsmok’d on iOS

Another free app perfect for iPhone owners is Unsmok’d. It works by focusing on fighting those cravings for a cigarette. Whenever you feel the urge to light up just grab your phone instead and take out all your frustrations on the app’s Smoky character. You can also watch a random funny video to take your mind off the craving.

It helps you let go of stress and distracts you from the urge. You can also collect awards to prove your resistance and willpower, and motivate you to keep going.

Quit Genius on iOS and Android

This app uses personalised interactive breaching exercises, audio sessions, animated videos and mindfulness to help you achieve your goal of quitting smoking, vaping and alcohol. It works by changing the way you think about your habits so you’re in the best place to succeed. Paying for the premium version unlocks special features, including a chat feature with your own personal quit coach.

The Mindfulness App on iOS and Android

Quitting smoking can be a very stressful process. It’s worth remembering that while you’re dealing with physical cravings you also need to take care of your mental health, too. And that’s where mindfulness can be a real boon. Try out this app’s five-day introduction and get your journey started today.

The app is easy to use for even complete newbies while the handy ‘Mindful Notices’ help to keep you focused on being present in the moment you’re in, right now.

If you’re interested in mindfulness then try out some of the 9 best mindfulness apps the team at Gadget Cover have recommended. Even more reason to protect your device with mobile phone insurance!

Other ways to stop smoking

As well as downloading one or more of these handy apps, there are many ways you can get support to quit smoking. Local NHS Stop Smoking Services are free, friendly and can boost your chances of quitting in the long run. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can also advise you on how to get started and talk to you about treatments like nicotine replacement therapy, and other medications.

When you’re ready to stop smoking it’s always important to have a plan. Particularly when it comes to overcoming those situations where the urge might get too much. Here are some top quitting tips worth remembering.

• Pick a date to quit and add it to your calendar.
• Make a list of the reasons you’re quitting and keep it close to you.
• List those situations that might trigger smoking and how to avoid them.
• Tell friends and family you're quitting.
• Try to quit with a friend or relative for moral support.
• If you’ve tried to quit before, think about what worked that time.
• Use other stop smoking aids like patches and gums.
• Remove items in your home or at work that remind you of smoking.
• Decide on a plan of what to do if you’re tempted to smoke.
• Keep cravings at bay by exercising.
• Join a group for support and advice.
• Refer to yourself as a non-smoker when you’re talking to people.

Mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover

Giving up smoking is stressful enough without worrying about what might happen if your mobile phone gets damaged, lost or stolen – especially if you’re using it as a tool to help you quit. Call Gadget Cover’s team of insurance specialists and arrange a mobile phone insurance policy to suit your needs and budget.

Our policies can include protection from accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage.

Get a quick quote for mobile phone insurance today.