Kicking the Habit
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men
and women in the United States. While many people are aware
that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, few people
realize it is also a risk factor for other cancers including mouth,
voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney,
pancreas, cervix, stomach and some leukemias.
"Having a support system along with tools
and resources greatly increases a person's
chances of being able to successfully quit
smoking," says William Duffy, MD, Internal
Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital. |
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Kicking the habit is difficult to do alone. If you or someone you
care about wants to quit smoking, the Joan Karnell Cancer
Center and the Respiratory Care Department of Pennsylvania
Hospital can help through the Quit Smoking Program at
Pennsylvania Hospital. The five-week program offers counseling
and support to help overcome a smoking addiction.
For more information or to register, call Lisa Pasquarello, RRT,
Smoking Cessation Coordinator, at 215-829-7467.
After Quitting...
Within 20 minutes of smoking
that last cigarette, the body
begins a series of changes that
continue for years.
- 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
- 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood
drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung
function increases.
- 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath
decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that
move mucus out of the lungs) regain
normal function in the lungs, increasing
the ability to handle mucus, clean the
lungs and reduce the risk of infection.
- 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease
is half that of a smoker's.
- 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a
nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
- 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half
that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of
cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus,
bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
- 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that
of a non-smoker's.
Source: American Cancer Society
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