Start the New Year Tobacco-Free
December 28, 2012
Many smokers will ring in the New Year with resolutions to quit for good. People who stop smoking can greatly reduce their risk for many diseases and premature death, while protecting family member and others around them from harmful secondhand smoke.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43.8 million Americans still smoke. About 70 percent of smokers want to quit, and more than half of them try to stop each year.
For those trying to quit, help is available right now by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting www.smokefree.gov.
According to the CDC, quitting smoking will:
Lower your risk for lung and other types of cancer.
Reduce your risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
Reduce respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Reduce your risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Reduce your risk for infertility if you are a woman in your reproductive years. Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low-birth-weight baby and other pregnancy complications.
Here’s a terrific infographic from BeTobaccoFree.gov that shows how the benefits of quitting smoking start immediately and grow over time:
