Timeline Of The Benefits Of Quitting Smoking

Here are the benefits of quitting smoking:

1.      20 minutes: Blood pressure and heart rate begin to return to normal; blood circulation improves.

2.      8 hours: Carbon monoxide levels return to normal. 

3.      24 hours: Risk of heart attack begins to drop.

4.      1 week: Sense of smell and taste begin to improve.

5.      3 months: Lung functioning increases by 30%.

6.      9 months: Lungs regain the ability to clean themselves and fight infection.

7.      1 year: Excess risk of heart attack drops by half.

8.      5 years: Risk of stroke drops to that of a nonsmoker. 

9.      10 years: Risk of lung cancer drops to half that of smokers; risk of other cancers also decrease.

10.  15 years: Overall risk of premature death (from cancer, heart attack, or any smoking related cause) is now the same as a nonsmoker. 

 

If you are a smoker, TeenHealthFX strongly encourages you to kick the habit and start working towards a healthier you. Consider contacting some of the following resources for some support and guidance:

If you live in New Jersey, you can contact Quitline at 1-866-NJ-STOPS and Quitnet.

Outside of New Jersey you can contact the following nationwide hotlines:

·         American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345

·         National Cancer Institute at 1-800-422-6237

Other statewide hotlines include:

·         Arizona Smoker's Helpline, 1-800-556-6222 

·         California Smoker's Helpline, 1-800-NO-BUTTS 

·         Illinois Tobacco Helpline , 1-800-548-8252 

·         Iowa Quitline , 1-866-U-CAN-TRY 

·         Massachusetts Smoker's Quitline, (English) 1-800-879-8678, (Spanish/Portuguese) 1-800-833-5256

·         Michigan Quit Smoking Coaching Hotline , Free counseling for Michigan residents 1-800-480-7848, Free printed materials, coupons, quit kits 1-800-537-5666

·         Minnesota Helpline, (English) 1-877-270-7867, (Spanish) 1-877-266-3863

·         Mississippi Tobacco Quitline, 1-877-4US-2-ACT (1-877-487-2228) 

·         Montana Tobacco Quit Line, 1-877-612-1585 

·         Nevada Tobacco Users Helpline, 1-888-866-6642 or 702 877-0684 

·         New York Quitline, 1-888-609-6292 

·         Oregon Tobacco Quit Line, English 1-877-270-7867, Spanish 1-877-266-3863 

·         Texas Quitline, 1-877-937-7848 

·         Utah Quitline, 1-888-567-8788 

·         Vermont Smokers Quitline, 1-877-YES-QUIT

·         Washington State Quit Line, English 1-877-270-STOP, Spanish 1-877-2NO-FUME 

·         West Virgina (only for those in WV with Medicaid or Public Employess Insurance Agency insurance), 1-877-966-8784

·         Wisconsin Tobacco Quitline, English 1-877-270-STOP, Spanish 1-877-2NO-FUME