Smoking widening life-expectancy gap between rich and poor in North

The gap between the number of rich and poor people taking up smoking in the North is widening, it was revealed today.

A third of unskilled manual workers use tobacco compared to a tenth of professionals, the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) said.

Smoking is a major factor in stroke and coronary heart disease and kills two in every five people in the North.

The HPA is encouraging smokers to quit in the new year with an advertising campaign.

Chief executive Dr Brian Gaffney said: “The campaign is aimed at all adults who smoke, particularly unskilled and semi-skilled manual workers.

“Evidence shows that tobacco is a major cause of health inequalities and is the principal cause of the gap in life expectancy between rich and poor.”

According to the HPA, only 12% of professionals smoke compared to 35% of unskilled manual workers, with the divide widening. Smoking kills up to 3,000 people every year.

The campaign includes the media and outdoor advertising.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals in every cigarette.

Radio adverts will highlight the danger of throat cancer and gangrene.

Ex-smoker Gary Burnside said his voice box had to be removed because of the damage caused.

“The result of this was being speechless for two weeks and being fed through my nose,” he said.

Radio advertising also raises awareness of the link between smoking and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), which causes a blockage in the arteries and can lead to gangrene.

Smoking is the primary risk factor and severe cases can lead to amputation.

Dr Gaffney said three quarters of smokers wanted to stop.

“We know that stopping smoking isn’t easy and smokers can make more than a dozen quit attempts before they successfully stop smoking for good.

“We want smokers who see and hear the campaign to feel motivated to make a quit attempt and take advantage of the smoking cessation support that is available for them.”