Today is the 35th Great American Smokeout. I'm encouraging smokers to use today to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking on a date you set. By doing so, you will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help. The American Cancer Society has resources to help you set a quit date, make a plan to quit, and resources to help you along the way. Check out http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GreatAmericanSmokeout/index
Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help. The American Cancer Society has resources to help you set a quit date, make a plan to quit, and resources to help you along the way. Check out http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GreatAmericanSmokeout/index
If you need another reason, besides improving your health, the benefits of quitting are numerous. They include:
20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a person who continues smoking. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases, too.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker's.
Make a commitment to yourself, challenge a loved one, co-worker, friend, show them support and help them to make today the day they quit smoking for good. Your body will thank you.
