11 / 16
THE GREAT AMERICAN
SMOKEOUT
is Nov. 17. But any
day is the day that quitters win.
Tobacco use remains the largest
preventable cause of disease and
premature death in the U.S., with
approximately 42 million Americans
smoking cigarettes and another
nearly 15 million smoking cigars and
pipe tobacco.
Life expectancy for smokers is
at least 10 years shorter than that
of nonsmokers. Quitting smoking
before the age of 40 reduces the
risk of dying from smoking-related
disease by about 90 percent.
“Quitting while you are younger
will reduce your health risks more,
but quitting at any age can give
back years of life that would be
lost by continuing to smoke,” says
David Emerson, MD, with Oxford
Family Practice. “It lowers the risk
of diabetes, lets blood vessels work
better, and helps the heart and
lungs.”
Some benefits will happen right
away, while others will appear more
slowly over time. You’ll instantly save
money spent on tobacco! Here are just
a few other benefits you may notice:
Food tastes better.
Your sense of smell returns to
normal.
Your breath, hair and clothes smell
better.
´ ´
Your teeth and fingernails stop
yellowing.
´ ´
Ordinary activities leave you less
short of breath (e.g., climbing
stairs or light housework).
´ ´
You can be in smoke-free build-
ings without leaving to smoke.
Quitting also helps stop the
damaging eects of tobacco on
how you look, including premature
wrinkling of your skin, gum disease
and tooth loss.
Source: American Cancer Society
2 weeks–
3 months
BLOOD PRESSURE
&
HEART RATE
DROP
.
12
hours
The
balance
of
carbon monoxide
and oxygen in the
bloodstream has
returned to normal.
Nonsmoker
Risk of stroke can fall to about the
same level as a
nonsmoker
.
• The risk of heart
attack decreases.
• Lungs are working
better.
Respiratory problems have
started to decrease.
after
1
year
after
Excess risk of heart
disease decreases to
half
that of a current smoker.
50
%
BENEFITS QUITTING
OF
1–9
months
after
The risk of dying from lung cancer
declines to about
50%
of that
of a current smoker.
The risk of heart disease
is similar to that of a
nonsmoker
.
O
2
CO
after
20 min.
after
Risk of
stroke
goes
down.
Sources: American Cancer Society; American Lung Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
When you give up smoking
2
years
after
5
years
after
5 years
without
smoking
10
years
after
15
years
after
WELLNESS
www.rmccares.org11
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