While quitting smoking is no easy feat, it is not an impossible task. ASH Philippines encourages everyone to Start 2020 right by quitting the habit of smoking. 

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Here you can find useful information to find out why quitting the habit is important for you, your family, your friends.

The immediate and long term health benefits of quitting for all smokers:

Within 20 minutes your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

12 hours later, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. 

2-12 weeks your circulation improves and your lung function increases. 

After 1-9 months coughing and shortness of breath decreases.

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Within a year your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker!

5 years later, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. 

10 years, your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases. 

15 years later, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s

 

Quitting smoking also decreases the excess risk of many diseases related to second-hand smoke in children, such as respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma) and ear infections. It also reduces the chances of impotence, having difficulty getting pregnant, having premature births, babies with low birth weights, and miscarriage.

 

For more information on how you can quit smoking, you may visit World Health Organization’s (WHO) guide here: https://bit.ly/2QoXvZo.