A new year sparks many resolutions and for some people that includes quitting smoking.
Alberta Health Services officials say quitting tobacco provides many immediate and long-term benefits.
“Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking for example, your blood pressure drops to a level similar to what it was before your last cigarette,” AHS officials reported in a recent media release.
“Within eight hours, the carbon monoxide level drops in your body and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.”
And within 48 hours, the chances of having a heart attack start to decrease and a person's sense of smell and taste begin to improve.
Within one year of quitting smoking, a person's risk of having a smoking-related heart attack or getting mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney or pancreas cancer is cut in half.
Ian Mulholland, vice-principal of River Valley School in Sundre, said staff members at the school try to encourage students not to start smoking.
Each year they bring in a group of high school students from Red Deer called Butt Ugly that puts on a presentation about the dangers of smoking for Grade 6 students.
“That's when you're kind of hitting the age where the kids are getting a little more independent and they start to experiment” said Mulholland.
“They get a lot of instructions and talking about making good decisions and that's one of the ones we focus on, is not making the decision to start smoking.”
He said a blind survey was conducted a few years ago with students at River Valley School and most of them said they hadn't tried smoking and had no interest in it.
“We want kids to make the healthiest choices they can, and we know that's (smoking) not in their best interest for a variety of reasons,” he said, adding it's also a costly habit.
According to Alberta Health Services officials, quitting smoking also decreases the risk of having sexual and reproductive problems. And within five years of quitting, a person would have the same chance of having a stroke as a non-smoker.
“Being tobacco-free also means you're not exposing loved ones to second-hand and third-hand smoke and you're setting a positive example for those around you who may be inspired to quit as well,” say officials.
“Those are some pretty big rewards when you think about it, for both yourself and your loved ones.”
AlbertaQuits provides a variety of services to help people quit smoking, including a free online service and phone service operated by counsellors, text support, individual counselling and group programs.
“The nicotine in tobacco is an extremely addictive substance and when you stop using tobacco your body reacts to the lack of nicotine in your system,” say officials.
“For many people, giving up tobacco is easier said than done. Giving it up may be one of the toughest challenges you face in life, but it will also be one of your most rewarding.”
For more information, visit www.albertaquits.ca or call 1-866-710-QUIT.
"They (students) get a lot of instructions and talking about making good decisions and that's one of the ones we focus on, is not making the decision to start smoking."Ian MulhollandVP of River Valley School
