Tobacco Cessation

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Stopping the use of tobacco products is one of the best things you can do for your health! All forms of tobacco are dangerous and have devastating health consequences.

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Benefits of Quitting Smoking
According to the American Lung Association, when smokers quit, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes.

At 20 minutes after quitting:

• Blood pressure decreases

• Pulse rate drops

• Body temperature of hands and feet increases
   

At 8 hours:

• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal

• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
   

At 24 hours: 

• Chance of a heart attack decreases
   

At 48 hours:

• Nerve endings start re-growing

• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced
  At 2 weeks to 3 months:

• Circulation improves

• Walking becomes easier

• Lung function increases
   

At 1 to 9 months:

• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
   

At 1 year:

• Excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker
   

At 5 years:

• From 5 to 15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.
   

At 10 years:

• Risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers

• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases

• Risk of ulcer decreases
   

At 15 years:

• Risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked

• Risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked.
   

Try the 5 D's to get through the tough times:

1. Delay: The craving will eventually go away.

2. Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.

3. Drink water: It will flush out the chemicals.

4. Do something else: Find a new habit.

5. Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.

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Make a list with describing why you want to quit. Refer back to this list when you’re tempted. Reward yourself when you quit. Plan something special for yourself. For example, with all the money you’ve saved from quitting smoking, buy yourself some new CDs.

 

Anatomy of a Cigarette

Here are just a few chemicals in cigarettes: There are more than 4,000 substances found in cigarettes! Do you really want these chemicals poisoning your body???

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For more information, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/