Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

My work has recently brought me into contact with people in their late teens and early twenties. Speaking with them in general about their health I was surprised how many of them smoked, it was a good 80% of this particular group of adults. This has prompted me to write this article, firstly with some not very nice facts about smoking, but then with the positives of stopping.

Tobacco was introduced to Europe at the end of the fifteenth century and its use spread rapidly, for a long time it was thought to have medicinal value. The mass smoking habit really started in the 20th century and it was not until after the Second World War that the first questions were raised about the “benefits” of smoking.

Smoking is one of the most significant causes of preventable disease and early death in the UK and every year it is estimated 120,000 people die as a result of smoking. To put that in perspective smoking kills more people than road traffic accidents, poisoning and overdose, murder and manslaughter, suicide and HIV infection all put together.

James Dean Smoking

Smoking causes 30% of all cancer deaths(including at least 80% of lung cancer deaths), 17% of all heart disease deaths and at least 80% of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema. It cases the following problems:-
Cancers – lung, mouth, lip and throat, oesophageal, bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreatic, liver, colorectal, cervical and leukaemia.
Heart and circulation – Ischaemic heart disease, aortic aneurysm, myocardial degeneration, atherosclerosis and stroke.

So why is a cigarette so harmful? Cancer research has shown that a cigarette contains more than 4000 different chemicals of which at least 400 are toxic substances and 60 are known or suspected carcinogens (cancer causing substances).

Now the good news. There is lots of help available to help with stopping smoking. It is recognised that people fall into different categories when trying to stop, those that can fairly easily, and those that find it almost impossible (cigarettes can be more addictive than hard drugs). Look at your local PCT (Primary Care Trust ) website for smoking cessation classes amongst other things. If and when you stop smoking remarkable things start to happen: within-
20 mins -blood pressure and pulse rate start to return to normal.
24 hours – carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
48 hours – There is no nicotine left in the body. The ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.
72 hours – Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2 – 12 weeks – Circulation improves.
3 – 9 months – Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function is increased by up to 10%.
1 year – Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
10 years – Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker.
15 years – Risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

Obviously a lot of younger people will still only have been smoking a relatively short time. However, I have left in the 15 years to illustrate how long it can take to get back to normal health the longer ceasing smoking is left.

All the very best with your journey to quit and remember the benefits of exercise in helping you with what will be the best decision you ever made.