Healthy lifestyle on ketogenic diet

The government recently confirmed that single-use vapes will be banned in the UK as of 1st June 2025. A recent vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill also proposes a ban on the advertising of vapes, restrictions in flavours and more. Although there is limited research into the long-term health effects of vaping, healthcare professionals have expressed serious concerns over the risks to our hearts, lungs and even brains.

Beyond the personal effects, excessive vaping also poses a problem for our NHS. Between 2020 and 2023, there were 233 hospital admissions where vaping was deemed the primary cause, with a total of 941 where it was deemed either the primary or secondary cause.

While these figures don’t seem overly high at first glance, when we consider the fact that vaping is a fairly new habit (compared to smoking) and that the number of non-smokers who have started vaping has now surpassed one million, it’s clear these figures are only set to rise. Plus, with the average hospital stay costing the NHS around £480 per night, the increase in admissions poses a large financial burden.

With less than six months to go until the UK vape ban comes into force, the medical accountancy specialists at BW Medical take a look at five of the best lifestyle changes to help save our NHS precious time and funds and improve your own health.

1. Quit vaping and smoking

With almost 1,000 hospital admissions for vaping-related issues between 2020 and 2023. It’s clear that quitting vaping not only improves your health but also saves our precious NHS money.

Smoking-related health issues are also costing our NHS valuable funds, with yearly hospital admissions linked to smoking rising by almost 5% in recent years to an estimated 408,700. Smoking is known to be one of the worst things you can do for your health. NHS statistics show that, of all hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in 2022-23, 16% were linked to smoking – as were 7% of admissions for cardiovascular disease and 8% of those for cancer.

Although vaping is far better for your health than smoking, research shows that one million UK adults who vape daily have previously never smoked. This rise is particularly concerning among the younger generation, with one in seven 18–24-year-olds now vaping daily and almost one in ten 11-15-year-olds frequently using a vape.

With experts still unsure of the long-term health effects of frequent vaping, it’s very possible that the NHS may be facing a costly influx of patients as preventable conditions like EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) continue to increase.

2. Limit your alcohol intake

Drinking too much can cause a variety of serious health issues, from liver issues and cancer to brain damage and stroke. There is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol intake, but by limiting yourself to less than 14 units a week, you can look after your health and save the NHS money.

In a single year, the NHS saw 342,795 admissions to hospital caused solely by alcohol and a huge 948,312 admissions that were deemed alcohol-related. It is thought that alcohol misuse and related necessary treatment costs the NHS around £3.5 million every single year.

Overall, the estimated cost to the NHS and healthcare services across the UK is now thought to stand at £4.91 billion – this includes the fees associated with sending ambulances out to patients and the cost of hospital stays. This figure of £4.91 billion could pay the salaries of almost half of all nurses working in England. Cutting down your alcohol intake could help to reduce this burden on the NHS and improve your own physical and mental health.

3. Look after your teeth

While the majority of people pay for dental treatment, NHS dentists can provide care free of change in a range of situations. For instance, if you are under 18, you will receive free dental care – however, worrying trends towards more children requiring tooth extractions is putting yet more strain on the NHS.

When we look at the 0-19 age group, there were more than 47,500 tooth extractions in 2022-23. Of these episodes, 31,165 of them were due to a primary diagnosis of tooth decay – a 17% increase on the previous year. Tooth decay treatment is also the most common reason for a child aged between five and nine to be admitted to hospital.

The NHS cost of all tooth extractions related to decay in 2022-23 comes to a staggering £40.7 million. The good news is, tooth decay and cavities are highly preventable, especially in young children. Looking after your own teeth – and helping your children to look after theirs – by brushing twice a day and avoiding too much sugar, will go a long way toward preventing this kind of premature tooth decay.

4. Follow a healthy diet

We all know that it’s important to follow a healthy diet – however, complicated relationships with food, mental health concerns and financial concerns are all barriers to choosing the best options. It’s also well documented that issues with weight, including obesity, are not always due to diet or exercise issues and may be caused by genetics or a medical disorder, such as hypothyroidism.

However, recent statistics around weight gain in the UK show that 64% of adults are deemed to be overweight or living with obesity, a figure that is continuing to grow year-on-year. Obesity is related to a range of serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke.

NHS statistics reveal that there were over 8,700 hospital admissions in 2022-23 that were deemed directly attributable to obesity. When we consider hospital admissions where obesity was deemed to be the primary or secondary reason, this figure jumps to over 1.2 million patients.

Recent government research shows that obesity costs the NHS £6.5 billion every year. A large number of obesity cases are preventable, with good diet and exercise regimes. Doing everything you can to keep your weight at a healthy level will not only improve your life, but will save the NHS money in the long run.

5. Combat stress early

Mental Health UK’s 2024 mental health report recently found that a huge 91% of adults have suffered from extreme levels of stress or pressure within the past 12 months. The report revealed that these high levels of stress are not only limited to the workplace, with students and those who are unemployed experiencing some of the worst stress and pressure levels.

20% of UK adults had to take time off work in the past year due to stress, while 11% of us say we feel stressed every day. Worryingly, one in five young people and children have a mental health problem. The culmination of these high levels of stress and mental health concerns costs the NHS an estimated £300 billion – roughly double the NHS’s entire yearly budget.

Taking steps to reduce stress, care for your own mental health and check in with loved ones can prevent mental health concerns and stress from becoming chronic and spiralling out of control. Being aware of your mental health and acknowledging any issues can be challenging, but it’s important to be kind to your own mind, make time for activities you love and talk to your peers when you need support. Mental health charity Mind has some positive tips around caring for mental health and putting your wellbeing first.

If you’re looking to make positive lifestyle changes, start with these five tips and help save our NHS money at the same time! However, if you or a loved one is concerned about dependence, addiction or the mental health impacts of limiting use, always consult your doctor first. Mental health should always be taken seriously – if you are struggling, reach out to your doctor or therapist for help. Further support and advice can be found via the below services: