Stopping Smoking Adds Years to Your Life.
So, What Happens When You Quit Smoking?
Information about health benefits of quitting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
• Within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.
• 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate drops.
• 12 hours after quitting, carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• After 24 Hours: Your lungs begin to clear out accumulated mucus and tar. Your pulse rate and blood pressure begin to lower.
• After 48 Hours: Your sense of smell and taste begin to improve as nicotine is eliminated from your body.
• After 72 Hours: Your bronchial tubes begin to relax, making breathing easier. Lung capacity increases.
• After 2-12 Weeks: Circulation improves, making walking and physical activity easier. Stamina improves
• After 2 weeks to 3 months your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting, your coughing and sinus congestion decreases. Lung function improves. Shortness of breath decreases. Energy level increases.
• 1 year after quitting, your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• 5 years after quitting, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker’s.
• 10 years after quitting, your lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
• 15 years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease and lung cancer is back to that of someone who has never smoked.
Quit for Good Tips to Help You STOP Smoking Now:
Choosing to quit smoking and become an ex-smoker is a powerful act. Smokers should commit to quitting by setting a quit date and clearly identifying their reasons for quitting. Create a plan. Give yourself at least 5 days to “get ready” to quit. Your plan should include:
1. Cold laser therapy is one the fastest growing quit smoking programs available in America. It has been used successfully in Europe and Canada for over 22 years. Success rates range from 60-94%, depending upon the clinic, type of laser being used, expertise of the practitioner and the quality of additional support or counseling combined with the treatment. Look for a smoking cessation center that utilizes an Infrared laser in the 808-830nm wavelength and the 200-500mW power range. These lasers show an average of 85%+ success rate. The 780nm at 100mW is good, but takes about an hour to complete a treatment.
2. Get professional counseling. Find a professional who can help you know what to expect and how to handle tough situations when quitting. Utilize smoking cessation clinics that provide counselling or attend group support meetings in your community, or take advantage of telephone counseling where available.
3. Get social support. Tell your family, friends and co-workers about your plan to quit so they can help you through the stressful times. When socializing or going out, ask them to spend time with you in smoke-free environments.
4. Keep Trying, believe in yourself, take your health seriously, stay committed, never give up and if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Research shows former smokers try to quit many times before finally quitting. Success will come to you by using all of the tools that are available – cold laser treatments are most effective, especially when combined with counseling and support. Don’t give up!
