March 31, 2009

Quit Smoking: Benefit Timeline

March 31 is Kick Butts Day. Do you need to quit smoking? Do you need some motivation to do so? In just 20 minutes after quitting you improve your health. Look over the timeline below that outlines the health benefits you will realize when you finally quit smoking.

TIME after Quitting	BENEFIT
20 minutes	Your heart rate drops.
12 hours	The carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal.
2 weeks – 3 months	Your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lungs are working better.
1 month – 9 months	Coughing, congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease. Your risk for lung infection is lower.
1 year	You have cut your risk of heart disease to half a smoker’s risk.
5 years	Your risk of having a stroke is the same as a non-smoker.
10 years	Your risk of dying of lung cancer is half that of a smokers. You have decreased your risk for cancer of the mouth, throat, bladder and kidney.
15 years	Your risk of heart disease is now the same as a non-smoker.

Breaking your addiction to nicotine will not be easy but the benefits to improving your health are outstanding. I hope this timeline will help motivate you to take better care of your body.