Why Quit?

Looking Good & Feeling Better 

Health

The number one reason to quit smoking is for your health.  More than 440,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. That’s nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths. That is more than alcohol, suicides, homicides, fires, illegal drugs, and AIDS combined.  It is the number one preventable cause of death and disease in the US.

Tobacco use causes heart problems, lung cancer, cancer of the larynx, mouth, throat, esophagus, intestines, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.  Smoking can also lead to the development of stomach ulcers, gum disease, and other dental problems.  And, furthermore, tobacco use can lead to impotence and fertility problems.

After quitting, you start feeling better almost immediately.  You will notice that you have more energy. Suddenly you can climb that flight of stairs without feeling short of breath. As your fitness level increases, you will probably get fewer colds, flu, coughs, and other respiratory infections.

Here is more of what you should experience as you stay smoke free…

• After 20 minutes: Your blood pressure and pulse decrease
• After 12 hours: Your body level of carbon monoxide declines; it returns to non-smoking levels within 36 hours
• After 24 hours: Risk of a heart attack decreases
• After 48 hours: Nerve endings start to re-grow
• After 3 days: Sense of smell and taste return
• After 2 weeks: Lung function improves; circulation improves
• After 1 year: Risk of heart disease drops to half of that of a smoker
• After 5 years: Risk of stroke is equal to that of someone who has never smoked
• After 10 years: Risk of lung cancer is half that of a smoker
• After 15 years: Risk of heart disease is that of someone who has never smoked

Aesthetics

Not only will quitting make you feel great, but looking better is another benefit of quitting tobacco use.
After quitting you may notice…

• Better Breath
• Less Wrinkles
• That you Smell Better

Saving Money     

• Non-smokers also pay much less for life insurance premiums.
• Giving up cigarettes is like giving yourself a raise. Think about it. If you smoke 1 pack a day at $5 a pack, you could save around $1800 a year. Imagine what you could do with that money.
• Think about what you could do with that money?
  • That is 4.5 brand new iPods (one for you and a few for your family and friends)
  • A new computer (a nice one!)
  • A luxurious vacation
  • A plasma screen TV
  • A shopping spree
  • A week at a spa

Exposing Family & Friends to Second- Hand Smoke     

Second-hand smoke is smoke you breathe from other people's cigarettes.  It is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products and the smoke exhaled by smokers.

Secondhand smoke contains a complex mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals, more than 50 of which are known to cause cancer.  It can cause lung damage, lung cancer, and heart disease.  That's why smoking isn't permitted in most enclosed public places and offices.

Still, an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths and more than 35,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur annually among adult nonsmokers in the US as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Because their lungs are not fully developed, young children are particularly susceptible to secondhand smoke.  Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia in young children. Every year, 8,000-26,000 new asthma cases in children are associated with secondhand smoke. Today in Massachusetts eleven children will contract lower respiratory infections due to secondhand smoke.

Set an Example for Others

If you have children or you take care of children, this is the best reason for you to quit smoking: To set a good example for them. When asked, nearly all smokers say they don't want their children to smoke, but children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. Don't let them grow up thinking that smoking is okay. Be a good role model for your children by quitting smoking now.

• Did you know
• If you smoke, your child is more likely to smoke.
• If your teen smokes, he or she is about 1½ times more likely to quit smoking if you quit.