Quit smoking

"Death of Innocence"

I lie in here, beside the whitewashed wall,

My hair is gone, my head is bald,

The room is sterile and it's very cold,

Wish you were here, Dad, I need someone to hold.
I can't breathe, I'm on a machine,

It goes whirr and click, it's such a din,

I've got lung cancer, it's all black inside,

When Mom says smoking causes cancer, Dad, I think she lied.
I never lit up, even when you did,

I just sat next to you, a small little kid,

You huffed and puffed through your life, Dad,

And Mom always looked so very sad.

My friends asked me to smoke, but I never did,

Because Mom told me from young: smoking is stupid,

it soots up your lungs and blackens your teeth,

So when I see a smoker, Dad, I anger and seethe.

You smoked two packs a day but you're still healthy and strong,

I hate smokers, Dad, but I never thought you wrong,

I love you, Dad, I always sat next to you,

And I know that you always loved me too.

The room here is cold, I see you through the glass,

And I think back to long ago, Dad, of times past,

Of the memories, I recall as much as I can,

There's always been a cigarette, Dad, stuck inside your hand.
I remember the fun things, Dad, all the times we had,

But as I look at you from here, you look so very sad,

You're not smoking, Dad, no cigarette I can see on you,

Maybe it's just the hospital, and this is the ICU.
My breathing becomes labored, I don't think I'll live,

Well, I tried my best, I gave all I had to give,

But one thing, Dad, I cannot comprehend,

I'm not a smoker, so why is my life about to end?

Author Unknown

Have you made up your mind to quit smoking?

Congratulations! You have made the first and most important step to beginning your life as a non-smoker. You understand that you need to quit smoking, and the following information can be used to help you through the next steps in beginning your life 'smoke-free'.

Effects of Smoking

Short Term:

Hair and clothes smell
Skin wrinklles

Teeth/Fingers stained
Bad breath
Taste buds deadened
Stuffy nose
Reduced sense of smell
Throat is irritated
Increases Blood Pressure
Stress on Heart
Lungs receive less oxygen

Long term

Heart Attack
Stroke
Difficulty Breathing
Lung cancer

Why Should You Stop Smoking?

1:To improve your personal appearance by eliminating such things as stained teeth and fingers, bad breath, coughing, and smokingodor on clothes. Prevent wrinkles and keep skin nice.

2:Regain the sense of taste and smell, feel more energized and active, sleep better, and eliminate 'hairy tongue' and 'smokers cough' or wheezing.

3:Regain control of your behavior, gaining a sense of freedom, and owning yourself again.

4: Reduce health risks, such as the risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

5:Reduce risks of heart attack or problems breathing.

6: Reduce risk to unborn children and provide a healthy environment for children and others living around.

7:Save money.

8:Increase productivity by regaining the time you now spend maintaining your smoking habit.

9:Avoid possible injury or upset to others by such things as smoking in restaurants or dropping ashes on them.

Tips for Quitting:

1:Quitting smoking can be a difficult but very rewarding decision for you and your friends or family. To help you begin living your life smoke-free, review the following tips for success.
Think about your reasons for quitting. Write them down and carry them with you. You can read them every day or when the going gets tough.

2:Choose a good time to quit and set a quit date. Stick with it. Sign a contract. Announce it to family and friends who support your decision.

3:Think about when and why you use tobacco. Do you use tobacco for a pick-me up? When you are bored? When you are angry, upset, worried? When you are driving your car? When you are with others who are using tobacco?A couple of weeks before your quit date, wrap your cigarette pack with paper, pencil and rubber band. When you smoke write down the time of day, how you feel, and how important that cigarette is to you. This can help you identify your reasons for smoking.

4:Have a plan before you quit. If you use tobacco for a pick-me-up, plan to exercise or take a walk instead. When you're bored, plan to call a friend, listen to music, go for a walk, play with your pet, JUST GET BUSY! When you're upset, angry, or worried, call a friend, write it down, or talk to someone you trust.

5:Think good thoughts. "I will do this." "I'm worth it." "I'm in control." "I'm proud of myself."

6:What if you smoke after quitting? This does not mean you're a smoker again- do something now to get back on track. Don't punish yourself- think about why you smoked and decide what to do the next time it comes up. You're still a non-smoker.

What Happens When You Stop Smoking?

Your body will begin to repair itself as soon as 20 minutes after you stop smoking. Here is a list of common changes that you can expect.

20 minutes after last cigarette:
Blood pressure drops to normal
Heart rate drops to normal
Body temperature returns to normal (hands/feet)

8 hours:
Carbon Monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours:
Chance of heart attack decreases

48 hours:
Nerve endings start to re-grow

72 hours:
Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier - Lung volume increases

2 weeks to 3 months:
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%

1 to 9 months:
Lungs (cilia) begin to heal, increasing mucus, cleaning lungs and reducing infection

5 years:
Lung cancer death rate for an average smoker decreases from 137 to 72 per 100,000 people
Lung cancer death rate for an average smoker drops almost as low as the rate of nonsmokers
Pre-cancerous cells in the lung are replaced
Risk of other cancers decreases (mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas)