SMOKING patients cost GP practices in the East Lancashire Health Authority area more than £3 million a year.

Each of the 117 doctor's practices in the region notches up annual costs of £25,840 treating patients who smoke.

And, with an increase in smoking nationally among 11 to 15 year olds, this figure could double in the future.

Today is National No Smoking Day and it has been revealed that by the year 2020 - when these children reach middle age - the current global total of deaths from smoking is expected to have rocketed from three million to 10 million deaths annually.

Smoking is linked to a variety of diseases, from lung and throat cancer to heart disease and respiratory problems.

Figures from Communicare revealed 337 people in the region died from lung cancer from 1988 to 1992 with 374 new cases discovered in East Lancashire during that period.

Smoking causes the body to waste some energy in food.

But health education specialist in Burnley Janet Walton warned: "The weight loss by starting smoking, if any at all, will be replaced by the high chance of developing a serious illness which could kill them or seriously affect their quality of life by having a leg amputated through bad blood circulation. "Stopping smoking does not mean putting on weight. Some stay the same or even lose weight. Any weight gain is usually just a few pounds which are lost in a matter of months."

Tobacco companies played on the fear of fatness in the past, promoting cigarettes as a means of staying slim while failing to mention the diseases smoking causes which far outweigh the weight worry.

North West's Healthwise offer a complete plan and benefits to quitting smoking and are also giving away free information leaflets. Call 0800 66 55 44.

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