Smokers are being urged to kick the habit for good today
Ash Wednesday is National No Smoking Day, with health experts saying the benefits of quitting begin just 20 minutes after stubbing out the last cigarette.
HSE research shows 79 per cent of smokers want to give up, and 83 per cent regret starting.
The Irish Heart Foundation’s Medical Director, Dr Angie Browne, says there are financial benefits to stopping smoking too:
"Most people do want to quit because of the health benefits because one in two smokers will die a cardiovascular disease or heart attack or stroke. But in addition to that, if you smoke 20 cigarettes a day you can save €5,000 in a year- so that's an awful lot of money, it's going to pay for some very nice IT equipment or a lovely holiday we can when we can go back on holidays."
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