Quitting Smoking

• The majority of smokers are motivated to quit.
• 4 – 10 quit attempts are needed before long-term success is achieved.
• Over 50% of Ontarians who currently smoke expressed an intention to quit smoking within 6 months and 25% indicated intentions to quit within 30 days.
• Only about 20% of people permanently change long standing smoking habits at the first attempt. Most people revert, at least for a while, before trying to quit again.
• Relapse is the nature of addiction, not the failure of the individual.

Short Term Benefits

20 minutes

• Blood pressure drops to normal
• Temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

8 hours

• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours

• Chance of heart attack decreases

48 hours

• Walking becomes easier
• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 weeks to 3 months

• Lung function increases up to 30 percent
• Circulation improves

Long Term Benefits

1 to 9 months

• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia grow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus and clean the lungs to reduce infection.

1 year

• Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

5 - 15 years

• Risk of stroke is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.

10 years

• Risk of lung cancer drops to one-half that of continuing smokers.
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.

15 years

• Risk of coronary heart disease and death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked.

Available Resources

• Smokers Helpline – 1(877)513-5333
  www.smokershelpline.ca
• www.quit4life.com
• www.lungsareforlife.ca
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
  Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter
  Fiaza Siddiqi
  (519) 426-6170 ext.3248
  fiaza.siddiqi@hnhu.org