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Page 24
2017 Wellness Expo
Lincoln Daily News Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Quitting tobacco can be a real challenge, but
it is one of the best things you can do for
your health. It will lower your chance of lung
disease, heart attack, stroke and cancer.
Health improvements begin immediately
Within
20 minutes
of smoking cessation
your
blood pressure and pulse rate drops
to normal
and body temperature of hands and feet
increase to normal.
In
48 hours
, nerve endings start to regenerate
and your ability to
taste and smell
are
enhanced.
In
two weeks to three months
circulation
improves
and lung function increases
up to 30
percent.
After smoking cessation of one year, your risk
of
coronary artery disease
is half that of a
smoker.
Are you ready to quit?
If you answer yes to one of the following
questions, you are ready to begin the quitting
process:
1. Do I want to quit tobacco for myself?
2. Is quitting tobacco a #1 priority for me?
3. Do I believe that tobacco use is dangerous
to my health?
4. Am I committed to trying to quit even
though it may be tough at first?
5. Are my family, friends and coworkers
willing to help me quit?
6. Besides health reasons, do I have other
personal reasons for quitting?
7. Will I be patient with myself if I backslide?
Is the tobacco
monkey riding
your back?
By Sharon Koester, RRT at
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
Continued
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