No Smoking Day 2010
If your browsing through Fitness.TV chances are that you are already taking steps to lead a healthier lifestyle but for those that are finding it hard to let go of the cigarettes in their final bid for fitness then why not join thousands of others in quitting on National No Smoking Day, Wednesday 10th March?
Did you know?
The first benefits of quitting smoking are almost instantaneous and increase the longer you stay smoke free!
After.....
20 minutes Blood pressure and pulse return to normal
8 hours Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood are halved, oxygen levels in the blood return to normal
24 hours Carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and the lungs start to clear out the build up of tar
48 hours There is no nicotine left in the body. Taste and smell are greatly improved.
72 hours Breathing becomes easier, bronchial tubes begin to relax, energy levels increase
2 - 12 weeks Circulation improves, making walking and running a lot easier
3 - 9 months Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as the lungs have room for up to 10 per cent more oxygen
1 year Risk of heart attack is halved
10 years Risk of lung cancer is halved
15 years Risk of heart attack is at the same level as non-smokers
Additionally.......
- The risk of developing lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung disease is reduced - the sooner you stop smoking, the sooner your risk starts going down
- Stopping smoking at any age increases your life expectancy, provided that you stop before the onset of serious disease. Even if you have developed a disease, you can benefit from stopping as your body will be under less strain.
- A smoker who has suffered from a heart attack can halve the risk of a second heart attack by stopping smoking
- Ten years after quitting smoking an ex-smoker's risk of lung cancer is reduced by 30 to 50 per cent compared with that of a continuing smoker
- Smokers who stop before the age of 35 have a life expectancy not significantly different from that of a non-smoker
There are many steps you can take towards a smoke free lifestyle. Whether it's cutting down, giving up for No Smoking Day on March 10th, giving up for the week or taking a giant leap towards quitting for good.
Visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk for more help and information on how to quit.
