Smokers Urged to Kick Bad Habit in the Butt
“There are so many reasons for people to get motivated to quit smoking,” said Shawna Strickland, clinical assistant professor and respiratory therapy program director in the MU School of Health Professions. “The health benefits actually start within minutes of quitting. The cost savings of no longer buying cigarettes can be tremendous, and by quitting, smokers are helping other people who are being harmed by their second-hand smoke.”
According to the American Cancer Society, heart rate and blood pressure drop just 20 minutes after kicking the habit. The blood’s carbon monoxide level returns to normal in just 12 hours. Circulation improves and lung function increases within three months. Within a year, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. The excess risk of coronary heart disease drops to half of that of someone who smokes. Five years after quitting, the risk of a stroke drops to the same risk level of a non-smoker.