New research from Aviva reveals that approximately a quarter of those completing an online health check admit to being smokers and that a higher proportion of females (24%) than males (22%) smoke.
- Over a quarter of Ireland’s population smoke.
- More women than men smoke.
- Average number of cigarettes smoked per day is 13.
- Highest percentage, 31%, of smokers live in Westmeath.
- Monaghan has the lowest percentage of smokers at 16%.
New research from Aviva reveals that approximately a quarter1 of those completing an online health check admit to being smokers and that a higher proportion of females (24%) than males (22%) smoke. The research also revealed that Irish smokers smoke an average of 13 cigarettes every day costing the smoker approximately €163.80 each month and €2,000 a year.
Regionally, County Westmeath has the highest number of smokers with 31% of respondents reporting to smoke while County Monaghan reported the lowest number of smokers with only 16%.
The risk of developing lung cancer for Irish men will increase by 59% and by 136% for Irish woman by 2020 according to the National Cancer Registry2 and with lung cancer accounting for 20% of all deaths from cancer each year, there is a real need to stub out smoking and protect the health of Ireland’s consumers.
Ash Ireland (Action on Smoking and Health) also recently published data revealing 7,500 people die from the effects of tobacco each year in Ireland and thousands of others are ill because of tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer which accounts for 1,500 of all deaths from cancer in Ireland each year3. The more cigarettes a person smokes per day and the lower the age at which they began smoking, the greater the risk they have of developing lung cancer.
Commenting on the results of the online health check, Dr Stephen Murphy of the Aviva Health Insurance Medical Council said: “The research reveals a real need to cut out smoking in Ireland. I urge all smokers to seriously consider quitting this life threatening habit and to consequently live a healthier life. The risk of lung cancer for a smoker is significant - at least four out of five cases are associated with cigarette smoking.3
"By quitting this habit the risk of lung cancer falls to the same level as a non-smoker after fifteen years so it is so important for smokers to cut the habit at the earliest opportunity”.
Dr Stephen Murphy continued: "The New Year is the ideal time to take positive steps to improve your health, I would urge you to complete the online health check available at www.aviva.ie/health and to find out more helpful tips for a healthier you in 2010."
To help stub out smoking in Ireland, health insurance from Aviva is the first and only insurer to offer its members access to the Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking programme – one of the most successful methods of smoking cessation with a 90% global success rate. Aviva health insurance members will be refunded €110 upon successful completion of the programme (total cost is €320). There are no waiting periods for this benefit, which means new members can sign up straight away.
“By offering members a refund of €110 Aviva is incentivising people to take positive steps to help them stop smoking and enjoy the health benefits associated with non smoking. Allen Carr clinics are highly successful and provide Aviva health insurance members an opportunity to quit smoking once and for all,” said Dr Stephen Murphy of Aviva Medical Council.
Health insurance from Aviva is looking out for Ireland’s consumers and offers the following top tips to help consumers quit smoking:
- Talk to your doctor about quitting. Support and guidance
from a physician is a proven way to improve your chances to quit. - Drink lots of water. Water will help flush the nicotine and
other chemicals out of your body. - Begin an exercise programme. Exercise relieves stress and helps your body
recover from years of damage from cigarettes.
For further tips on how to quit smoking and details of the Allen Carr Easyway to Stop Smoking programme please visit www.aviva.ie/health
-ends-
1 This is in line with a recent national survey conducted by the HSE which states that over 29% of the Irish population are smokers.
2 NCRI (National cancer registry) (2006) "Trends in Irish cancer incidence 1994 – 2002, with projections to 2020" pp38. www.ncri.ie/pubs/pubfiles/proj_2020.pdf.
3 Source: Department of Health and Children Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland.
League Table
These statistics were collected via an online survey available at www.aviva.ie/health, the information is "self-reported" by users of the website.
| County | Proportion of County respondents who are smokers as % |
| Cork | 23% |
| Donegal | 19% |
| Dublin | 23% |
| Dublin city | 23% |
| Carlow | 19% |
| Cavan | 23% |
| Clare | 23% |
| Galway | 23% |
| Kerry | 21% |
| Kildare | 23% |
| Kilkenny | 18% |
| Laois | 19% |
| Leitrim | 21% |
| Limerick | 22% |
| Longford | 28% |
| Louth | 21% |
| Mayo | 20% |
| Meath | 22% |
| Monaghan | 16% |
| Offaly | 19% |
| Roscommon | 22% |
| Sligo | 23% |
| Tipperary | 22% |
| Waterford | 27% |
| Westmeath | 31% |
| Wexford | 21% |
| Wicklow | 24% |