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QUIT Smoking Now! And Breathe a Sigh of Relief.
Cigarette smoke contains 4,000 harmful substances including 200 poisons and 69 cancer causing chemicals. Nicotine is the poisonous, colorless chemical found in cigarettes that makes smoking very addictive.
Speak to your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to learn more about the harmful effects of smoking.
Benefits of quitting
It is never too late to stop smoking. There are immediate benefits to quitting smoking for men and women of all ages. These benefits apply to people who already have smoking-related diseases and those who don’t. You can experience the advantages of quitting within minutes of smoking your last cigarette.
- Within 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure and pulse rate decrease.
- After eight hours, oxygen levels rise.
- After 24 hours, the risk of a heart attack decreases.
- After 48 hours, nerve endings start regenerating, and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
- After three months, circulation improves, walking becomes easier and lung function increases.
- After nine months, coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of
breath decrease. - After one year, the risk of heart disease decreases.
- After five years, risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus decreases by 50 percent.
- After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer decreases.
Services and treatment options to help you quit
Speak to your PCP about resources available in your area to help you quit smoking.
Some services available include:
- Counseling – These programs help to identify the reasons why you smoke and develop a treatment program that’s right for you.
- Social support from family, friends or informal groups.
