1. Why Quit? Health Benefits Immediate Long Term Increases
Lifespan Quality of Life Improves Lower Insurance Premiums
Eliminates Secondhand Smoke
2. Drawbacks Weight Gain Short-term Emotional Changes You would
have to have 80 to 100 pounds of weight gain before you'd even
begin to approach the health risks you have from smoking!
3. Immediate Benefits After just 20 min: Blood pressure goes
down Pulse rate slows Temperature of your hands and feet increases
due to improved circulation After eight hours: Carbon monoxide
levels go down Oxygen levels return to normal Within 24 hours:
Chances of a sudden, drop dead on the spot heart attack are cut in
half Risks of a second heart attack rapidly diminish
4. Immediate Benefits Within 48 hours Nerve endings begin to
regenerate Sense of taste and smell improves Nicotine by-products
are removed from the body Within 3 days: Bronchial tubes start to
relax Lung capacity begins to improve
5. Immediate Benefits Within a few weeks: Circulation improves
Lungs have begun to function Exercising is easier Phlegm
production, coughing, and wheezing decreases Bad breath disappears
Stains on your teeth, fingers, and fingernails fade. Smoke smell
dissipates from your hair, clothes, car, and furniture. You have
more overall energy and enjoy life more
6. Immediate Benefits Within 1 to 3 months: Lung function
increases up to 30 percent. Bronchial cilia begin to re-grow,
ability to clean lungs increases, chances of infection are reduced,
and pollutants are cleared
7. Long Term Benefits Within 1 year: Risk of coronary heart
disease decreases to half the risk of a continuing smoker Within 2
years: Risk is reduced for recurrence of ulcers Ability for
short-term healing improves Risk of death from heart disease
declines 24% Within 3 years: Risk of heart attack and stroke
approaches that of someone who has never smoked
8. Long Term Benefits Within 5 years: Risk of developing mouth,
esophageal, throat and bladder cancer reduces by 50% Within 10
years: Pre-cancerous cells are replaced by healthy, normal cells
50% to 70% reduction in the risk of developing lung cancer
9. Long Term Benefits Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart
disease is similar to that of people who never smoked Risk of dying
is nearly back to the same level as that of non-smokers Benefits
for Women: Not smoking during pregnancy reduces fetal and infant
deaths by approximately 10%. Risk of cervical cancer reduces after
2 years Menopause occurs 1-2 years later
11. The Choice is Yours Step-by-Step Quit Guide:
http://www.smokefree.gov Call: The NCI Smoking Quitline at
187744UQUIT (1877 4487848) for individualized counseling, printed
information, and referrals to other sources Fact Sheet: Where To
Get Help When You Decide To Quit Smoking
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/tobacco/help
-quitting