| Welcome to part seven of this free quit smoking | | | | Year 15 |
| course. | | | | - Your risk of heart attack and heart disease has |
| OK, I've told you that this smoking lark is really nasty, | | | | returned to that of a lifelong non-smoker |
| but the good news is that there are serious | | | | - Your risk of stroke and death will be the same as a |
| improvements to your health from the day you quit. | | | | non-smoker. |
| Here is a list of things to know about how you will | | | | Other Benefits |
| change over the coming weeks, months and years | | | | - If you quit smoking before the age of 35, the |
| after quitting: | | | | statistics suggest that you will not suffer any real |
| Day One | | | | shortening of life expectancy compared to a |
| - Blood pressure falls | | | | non-smoker. |
| - Carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to a | | | | - If you continue to smoke after the age of 35, you |
| healthy | | | | reduce your life expectancy by about 3 months for |
| - Oxygen levels in your blood rise to normal | | | | every year you continue to smoke. |
| - Blood flow to your hands and feet improve | | | | - Statistics reveal that your longevity increases no |
| Day Two | | | | matter when you quit smoking, whether that be as a |
| - Your risk of heart attack falls immediately | | | | teenager or as a pensioner. There is never a bad time |
| - Your sense of smell and taste will start to improve | | | | to quit - it is always worth it! |
| Day Three | | | | There is a whole range of products available on the |
| - Nicotine levels are down to zero | | | | internet to help you quit smoking. You would do well to |
| - Cravings will be at their worst today (normally) | | | | consider them too and here's why: |
| - Coughing may be becoming irritable | | | | - You may well shorten your life by as much as thirty |
| Weeks 1-4 | | | | years as a direct consequence of smoking plus you |
| - Blood circulation has improved | | | | are likely to suffer a slow and painful death if smoking |
| - Skin is looking better | | | | gives you a terminal illness. |
| - Your breathing and lung function is improving | | | | - You are likely to suffer from ill health even if you are |
| - You are producing less phlegm | | | | not fatally affected by smoking. |
| - You are coughing less than before | | | | - You will not look as good as you could if you |
| - You may start noticing other nicotine withdrawal | | | | continue to smoke. Smokers have a waxy grey |
| symptoms | | | | complexion compared to non-smokers and develop |
| Months 1-3 | | | | stained hair, fingers and skin from the tar in tobacco |
| - Your lung function will have improved significantly | | | | smoke. |
| - Wheezing should have stopped | | | | - You will smell better if you quit. As a smoker you |
| - Sinus congestion and breathlessness have subsided | | | | may not realize this but to non-smokers, you stink! |
| - Your energy levels will be higher - you may feel and | | | | They are just being polite most of the time : ) |
| urge to exercise! | | | | - You will have more energy to enjoy life. |
| Year 1 | | | | - You will feel proud of yourself after you have quit; it |
| - Your risk of heart disease and heart attack have | | | | is a great accomplishment and a great source of pride |
| halved | | | | to smokers when they succeed. |
| Year 5 | | | | - You will gain the respect of your peers and family |
| - The risk of mouth, throat and oesophageal cancer | | | | because you will have overcome smoking. |
| have all halved compared with when you were a | | | | In part eight of this free quit smoking course, we will |
| smoker | | | | learn what immediate steps you must take to quit |
| Year 10 | | | | smoking successfully. |
| - Your risk of lung cancer is half that of a smoker | | | | |