Join Forces With The American Cancer Society During This Year’s
Great American Smokeout – November 15, 2018
If you or someone you know is a smoker – take some time to read up on the various resources the American Cancer Society publishes and provides to help smokers kick the habit.
Did you know that almost 38 million Americans presently smoke. According to the ACS, smoking continues to be the largest preventable cause of death and illness in the entire world. Smoking causes greater than 480,000 deaths every year (which is about 1 in every 5 deaths).
The Great American Smokeout is an event that encourages smokers to put a plan in place to STOP smoking. This annual event has been going on for more than 40 years. The ACS reports that addiction to nicotine is one of the strongest and most deadly addictions one can have.
Benefits of Quitting:
When you quit smoking the following benefits occur as outlined on the American Cancer Society’s website … some of these facts are staggering and should boost one’s decision to STOP smoking.
- Within minutes of smoking your last cigarette – your body begins to recover
- 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 fucntion increases
- 1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs start to regain normal function, increasing their 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 someone who still smokes and your heart attack risk drops dramatically.
- 5 years after quitting, your risk of mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder cancers is cut in half. Cervical cancer risk is also reduced. Your stroke risk can also fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.
- 10 years after quitting your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who still smokes. Also, your risk of laryngeal and pancreatic cancer also decreases.
- 15 years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
Additional Benefits of Quitting:
- lowers your risk of diabetes
- blood vessels work better and your heart and lungs are stronger
- If you quit smoking before the age of 40 it reduces your risk of dying from a smoking related illness by about 90%
- smokers live an average of 10 years less than non-smokers.
- right away you’ll save money that you spent on tobacco
- food will start to taste better
- your sense of smell returns to normal
- your breath, hair and clothes smell better
- your teeth and fingernails will stop yellowing
- it also helps stop the damaging effects of tobacco on how you look: premature wrinkling of your skin, gum disease and tooth loss
If you need additional support or resources to help you or a family member in their quest to stop smoking, reach out to the American Cancer Society or call them at 1-800-227-2345.