Make tobacco cessation a New Year’s resolution
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer for both men and women, but is also the most preventable form of cancer deaths. Not only does tobacco use lead to lung cancer, but it also increases the risk of cancers in almost every area of the body from the mouth to the rectum, including blood cancers.
Tobacco use is responsible annually for 480,000 deaths and is the cause of one in five deaths nationwide. Cigars and smokeless tobacco are also major sources of carcinogens leading to cancer. In addition, secondhand smoking deaths occur in about 41,000 non-smoking adults each year.
While it is not an easy thing to do, there are some immediate benefits to stopping smoking. Within 20 minutes of the last cigarette, blood circulation improves, and blood pressure and heart rates drop. Within 12 hours, blood levels of carbon monoxide and oxygen improve to normal. Within nine months, shortness of breath and senses of taste and smell improve. In one year, the risk of heart disease is cut in half. As time goes on, the risk of developing mouth, throat, esophageal, lung and other cancers decrease as well as the risk of heart attack and stroke.
With all this in mind, if you smoke or know someone who does, consider it time to make a New Year’s resolution to stop smoking in 2024. Do this for yourself and those who love you.
Linda M. Walsh, RN, BSN
770-552-6400 x6019
Photo by George Morina: https://www.pexels.com/photo/no-smokinh-signage-5142370/
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