Great American Smokeout - November 18th

Have you thought about quitting smoking?
Having a hard time deciding when to stop?
November 18th can be that day! 
November 18th is the 35th Great American Smokeout.

Smokers are encouraged to mark the 18th as the day to quit, as the day to make a plan to quit or as a day to stop smoking for 24 hours.

Your body will begin to feel changes in as little as 20 minutes after you stop smoking!

• Your blood pressure will decrease
• The temperature in your hands and feet will increase

At 8 hours:

• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

At 48 hrs

• Nerve endings begin regrowth
• Ability to smell and taste improves

At 2-3 months

• Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.

At 1 year

• Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.

At 5-15 years

• Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker

At 13 years

• Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).

Smokers are at risk for the following health related problems:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Lung Cancer
• Emphysema
• Increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
• Increased risk of Breast Cancer
• Increased risk of developing diabetes
• For other smoking related health problems click here.

For more information on how to QUIT SMOKING visit the American Cancer Society.

For more information on the harmful side effects of cigarettes click here.
American Cancer Society

Click here (health problems):
http://www.dhss.mo.gov

Click here ( Side effects)
http://www.thetruth.com/facts/