From the Editor's Desk
Quit however you can
Arthur McLean
As many of you know, my father died Jan. 12. Four days later, the father of one of my friends died. What did these two men have in common? Aside from some generalized qualities, probably not much, although I think they would have gotten along splendidly had they ever met.

One thing the two men shared was that they were both former smokers.

My father quit after he retired about 8 years ago. The other man quit nearly 30 years ago.

Was smoking responsible for their deaths?

In my father's case, I'd say it was partly to blame.

We can argue until we're blue in the face about alcohol in this town, but there's another, perfectly legal drug in this town that is guaranteed to damage your health, no ifs ands or buts about it.

That drug is nicotine. It's addictive, and smoking is medically proven to diminish lung capacity, damage the heart and cardiovascular system.

It can lead to lung cancer, emphezema, heart disease and stroke.

I'm a smoker, and my recent experiences have convinced me that it's more important than ever to quit. I've tried in the past, but with little real motivation and no long-lasting success.

Now, I have plenty of motivation. I'm doing it in my father's memory, and for my future.

It's been difficult, and I'm sure it will continue to be so. I've known other people who've quit, and even years later, they still occasionally get the desire to smoke.

So far this time, I've tried to do it by cutting down. So far, I've cut my smoking by half, and I'm considering getting nicotine patches to help me the rest of the way.

If you're reading this and you're a smoker, I encourage you to quit. Use whatever you need, be it patches, pills or gums. If you've recently started, stop now before it becomes an entrenched habit.

Here's some information about what happens when you quit.

20 minutes

Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.

8 hours

Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half, oxygen levels 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. 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 half that of a smoker.

15 years Risk of heart attack falls to that of a non-smoker.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Taking Names and Keeping Score	1
Frances Nichols passes at 91	1
Bryant is a contestant in Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant	1
Dunagans to celebrate golden anniversary	1