Ready to Quit Tobacco? Here is How To Start

Every year in November, the American Cancer Society encourages people across the nation to quite smoking during the Great American Smoke Out event.

By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers take an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk. Did you know how quickly your body begins to recover?

• After 20 minutes: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
• After eight hours: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• After two weeks – three months: Your circulation improves and lung function increases.
• After one – nine months: Coughing, sinus congestion, shortness of breath and fatigue decrease.
• After one year: The risk for heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
• After five years: The risk for cancer of the lung, mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a pack-a-day smoker.
• After 10 years: The risk of dying from lung cancer is the same as that for people who never smoked.

Set up a personal quit plan

S – Set a quit date.
T – Tell your family about your quit date.
A – Anticipate challenges and overcome them.
R – Remove all tobacco products from your home, work and car.
T – Talk to your doctor about getting more help to quit, which may include medication, support groups and other tools.

Ready to quit? Learn more at HenryFord.com/tobaccofree.