THE BENEFITS OF QUITTING SMOKING
I could not find a comprehensive list of these facts, so I put this one together myself.
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The average loss of life for all smokers whose deaths are attributable to tobacco is about 16 years. Source: Mortality from smoking worldwide, 1996, Oxford University Press for British Council |
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Smokers who quit at age 35 gain 6.9 to 8.5 years for men and 6.1 to 7.7 years for women more than continuing smokers. Even among smokers who quit at age 65 years, men gained 1.4 to 2.0 years of life, and women gained 2.7 to 3.7 years. Source: Benefits of smoking cessation for longevity, 2002, American Journal of Public Health. |
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Eight hours after quitting, your carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal. Source: American Cancer Society. (1999) Quitting Smoking. Atlanta, GA. |
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Twenty
four hours after quitting, your chance of heart attack decreases.
Source: American Cancer Society. (1999) Quitting Smoking. Atlanta, GA. |
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Two
weeks to 3 months after quitting, your circulation improves and lung
function increases up to 30%.
Source: American Cancer Society. (1999) Quitting Smoking. Atlanta, GA. |
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One to 9 months after quitting smoking, coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease; cilia regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection. Source: American Cancer Society. (1999) Quitting Smoking. Atlanta, GA. |
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Excess
risk of coronary heart disease caused by smoking is cut in half one year
after quitting. Within 15 years, the risk is the same as someone who
never smoked.
Source: Orleans C., and Slade J. (Eds.) (1993) Health Implications of Tobacco Addiction. Nicotine Addiction: Principles and Management. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. |
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Your risk of cervical cancer is substantially lower a few years after quitting smoking. Source: Orleans C., and Slade J. (Eds.) (1993) Health Implications of Tobacco Addiction. Nicotine Addiction: Principles and Management. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. |
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Quitting smoking reduces your risk of dying early by 50% within 5 years of quitting. After 15 years the risk is the same as if you had never smoked. Source: Orleans C., and Slade J. (Eds.) (1993) Health Implications of Tobacco Addiction. Nicotine Addiction: Principles and Management. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. |
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Your risk of cancer of the esophagus is reduced by 50% within 5 years of quitting smoking. Source: Orleans C., and Slade J. (Eds.) (1993) Health Implications of Tobacco Addiction. Nicotine Addiction: Principles and Management. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. |
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Quitting smoking reduces your risk of lung cancer by 30-50% after 10 years of abstinence. The longer you stay quit, the lower the risk. Source: Orleans C., and Slade J. (Eds.) (1993) Health Implications of Tobacco Addiction. Nicotine Addiction: Principles and Management. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. |