McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) recognize November 18th as the 35th annual Great American Smokeout. Smokers are encouraged to use the date to make a plan to quit.
By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help.
According to U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, the effects of quitting begin almost immediately and improve over time.
- after 20 minutes – heart rate and blood pressure drop
- after 12 hours – carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
- after 2 weeks to 3 months – circulation improves, lung function increases
- after 1 year – risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
- 5 years – stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting
- 10 years – lung cancer death is half that of a smoker; decrease in the risk of mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreatic cancer
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