Stop Smoking

How Smoking Effects the Entire Body

Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body:

• Related to bladder, blood, colorectal, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, throat, cervical, kidney, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and affects a person’s overall health.

• Smoking is a cause of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Smoking causes general adverse effects on the body, including inflammation and decreased immune function.
• Smoking is a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus and can make it harder to control. The risk of developing diabetes is 30–40% higher for active smokers than nonsmoker.
• Smoking can increase your risk for cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens that makes it hard for you to see) and age-related macular degeneration (damage to a small spot near the center of the retina, the part of the eye needed for central vision).
• Smoking affects the health of your teeth and gums and can cause tooth loss.
• Smoking can affect bone health.
• Smoking can also affect men’s sperm, which can reduce fertility and also increase risks for birth defects and miscarriage.

The Benefits Of Quitting Smoking

1. In 20 minutes, blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
2. In 8 hours, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal.
3. In 24 hours, carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
4. In 48 hours, there is no nicotine in the body, ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.
5. In 72 hours, breathing becomes easier, bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
6. In 2-12 weeks, your circulation will begin to improve.
7. In 3-9 months, coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%.
8. In 5 years, the risk of heart attack falls to about half compared to a person who is still smoking.
9. In 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to that of half a smoker. The risk of heart attack falls to the same level as someone who has never smoked.