Dangers of Smoking and Benefits of Stopping
Dangers of continuing smoking
Of all risk-taking behaviour, smoking is the most dangerous
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death due to smoking, taking more than 40,000 lives every year.
Heart Attack
A smoker is three times more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker.
Heart bypass
Nine out of ten people who require a heart bypass operation are smokers or have been.
Killer
Smoking kills more than 120,000 people in the UK every year (average of 300 plus a day). Smoking is linked to at least 14 different kinds of cancer, particularly affecting the liver, oesophagus and stomach.
Blood pressure
Smoking causes high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart disease.
High smoking risk
Even smoking a few cigarettes a day puts you at greater risk, and the more you smoke the more the likelihood of a heart attack.
Cholesterol
Nicotine in cigarettes increases the amount of a blood cholesterol. Arteries can clog up with fatty tissue, leading to cardiovascular disease.
Benefits of stopping smoking
Within 20 minutes: Your blood pressure drops to normal, pulse rate drops to normal, and the temperature of your hands and feet returns to normal.
Within 8 hours: Carbon monoxide in the blood drops and oxygen increases, so you will feel more energetic and less tired.
Within 24 hours: The chance of a heart attack starts to decrease.
Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to re grow so your sense of smell and taste returns, and you really can enjoy your food much more than ever. Because you are enjoying your food, you will feel full and satisfied with your meals, without thought of eating between meals.
