More than
430,000 Americans die
each year from smoking.*
Giving up smoking
is the most important thing a smoker
can do for his health
or the well-being
of his family.
Quitting is hard
Quitting can be a long and difficult process. Most people try
several times before they quit for good. Health concerns usually
top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking since
about half of all smokers who continue to smoke will end up
dying from a smoking-related illness.
Why Quit.
Smoking kills about half of its members with a whole variety of
cancers like lung cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the
pancreas, cancer of the kidney, liver cancer, cancer of the
mouth, lip and throat, bladder cancer, stomach cancer and
leukemia. Smokers have a two or three times greater risk of
having a heart attack, ten to sixteen times greater risk of
developing a peripheral vascular disease which may lead to
amputation of the legs. Smoking has been associated with
increased sperm abnormalities and is a cause of impotence. If
you are a woman who smokes and takes contraceptive pills, you
increase your chance of having a heart attack, stroke or other
cardiovascular disease by 10 times! Smoking not only affects
both your sense of taste and smell, but smokers are more likely
to develop facial wrinkles at a younger age and have poor dental
hygiene problems. **
Smoking is also expensive.
The average cost of a
cigarette is 32 cents and an average smoker smokes about 30
cigarettes a day. Keep that up for 5 years, and it will cost you
$16,896 - that's the price of a small car. And this doesn't
include other possible expenses, such as higher costs for health
care due to tobacco-related conditions.
Secondhand smoking.
Secondhand smoking causes premature death and disease in
children and adults who do not smoke. It is responsible for an
estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in people who live
with smokers but are not smokers themselves.*** Making your home
smoke-free is the most important thing you can do for the health
of your family.
Need Help?
With the wide range of medicines, counseling services and
self-help materials, smokers have more tools than ever to help
them quit successfully. Some people are able to do it on their
own, without the help of others, but for most people, the best
way will be some combination of medication, change in personal
habits and emotional support. For more information and help on
how to quit smoking, contact the following organizations:
American
Cancer Society
1-800-ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
American
Heart Association
1-800-AHA-USA
www.amhrt.org
American
Lung Association
1-800-LUNG-USA
www.lungusa.org
Centers
for Disease Control
1-800-CDC-INFO
www.cdc.gov/tabacco
National
Cancer Institute
1-800-4-CANCER
www.cancer.gov
Nicotine
Anonymous
1-415-750-0328
www.nicotine-anonymous.org
Smokefree.gov
1-800-QUIT-NOW
www.smokefree.gov
Stop now and
enjoy immediate benefits
Stop smoking and your body will begin to repair the damage
almost immediately. ****
|
Time
since quitting |
Beneficial health changes that take place |
|
20
minutes |
Blood
pressure and pulse rate return to normal. |
|
8 hours |
Nicotine
and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduced by half,
oxygen levels return to normal. |
|
24 hours |
Carbon
monoxide will be eliminated from the body. Lungs
start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris. |
|
48 hours |
There is
no nicotine left in the body. Ability to taste and
smell is greatly improved. |
|
72 hours |
Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to
relax and energy levels increase. |
|
2 - 12
weeks |
Circulation improves. |
|
3 - 9
months |
Coughs,
wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung
function is increased by up to 10%. |
|
1 year
|
Risk of
a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker. |
|
10 years |
Risk of
lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker. |
|
15 years |
Risk of
heart attack falls to the same as someone who has
never smoked. |
Information in
this publication is for general reference only. You should
not use this information to diagnose or treat any health
problems or illnesses without consulting your doctor.
*
"The Pocket Guide to Good Health for Adults"; May 2003; U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services
** "Basic Facts: Two - Smoking & disease";
August 2006; Action on
Smoking and Health (www.ash.org.uk)
*** "Secondhand Smoke"; October 2006; American Cancer
Society
(www.cancer.org)
**** "When Smokers Quit - The Health Benefits Over Time";
October 2006;
American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
