Posted by Birthday Cate on November 18, 2009 in 
Did you know that your heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after you quit smoking? Seems crazy, right? But it’s true. When you quit smoking, the benefits to your body are almost instant.
Quitting smoking is tough (okay, that’s an understatement), but if you can commit to doing it, you truly can help create a world with more birthdays both for yourself and for others. Don’t believe it? Here are some facts you may find interesting:
- Smokers who quit by age 35 can add up to 8 additional years to their life and 8 more birthdays.
- Smokers who quit by age 55 can add about 5 more years to their life and 5 more birthdays.
- Quit at 65 and gain up to three more years and 3 more birthdays.
So what would you do with 8 more years? With 5? With 3? If that’s not enough to sway you, maybe you need a little more support. The American Cancer Society offers a variety of resources to help people of all ages quit smoking. This includes tips and tools and even personalized telephone coaching.
The first step in quitting smoking is to commit to doing it. People are most successful when they make a plan to quit. If you don’t have a plan yet, join thousands of other smokers nationwide who will participate in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout this Thursday, Nov. 19. When you make it through the 19th, congratulate yourself and then realize you can get through the 20th too. Taking it one day at a time and using the support resources available can help you become a non-smoker for life.
If you’re not a smoker, but have friends or family members who smoke, encourage them to join the Smokeout! No matter what their age or how long they’ve been smoking, it’s never too late to quit. In fact, people who quit smoking before they turn 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared to people who continue to smoke.
Tell the people you love that you want them to have 3, 5, or 8 more birthdays to spend with you and tell them to start by setting the Great American Smokeout this week as their time to make a plan to quit!
We’d love to know what you’d do with 8 more years or if you have great tips to convince a friend or loved one to quit smoking.
I quit over 2 years ago after along, long time of smoking I did it b/c I wanted to and I used the generic gum. I think it works best b/c if you get to wanting real bad chew another piece. I hope I get 5 more years, I hope I get to enjoy them. Hope this might help someone.