It's Never Too Late To Quit

After having celebrated the annual Great American Smokeout last month, and looking forward to New Year's resolutions, smokers may be thinking of quitting.  It's never too late!

More than any lifestyle choice a person can make, quitting cigarettes will have the most positive impact on general health status.  This is what happens after quitting:

• 20 minutes after stopping smoking, the heart rate becomes normal
• 12 hours after stopping, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal
• 2 to 3 weeks after stopping, coughing and shortness of breath decrease
• 1 year after stopping, the added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's
• 5 to 15 years after stopping, the risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker
• 10 years after stopping, the chance of death by lung cancer is reduced to half of what it was when smoking

The National Cancer Institute's website at www.smokefree.gov provides science-driven tools, information, and support for those who quit.  It has state and national resources, free materials, and quitting advice from NCI.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309