19 November is the Great American Smokeout®, a day designated for people across the country to make a commitment to quit smoking. The purpose of this day is not to completely quit smoking in a single 24-hour period. It’s a time to draw a mental line in the sand and take one step toward a tobacco-free lifestyle.

Why Quit?

One in every five deaths in America is caused by smoking. And smoking not only causes cancer, it can also damage nearly every organ in the body, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, reproductive organs, mouth, skin, eyes, and bones.

Quitting smoking reduces your health risks almost immediately and continues to reduce your risks the longer you stay tobacco-free. According to the American Cancer Society:

• 20 minutes after quitting —  your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
• 12 hours after quitting —  the carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting — your circulation improves and lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting — coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and lung functions begin to return to normal with increased ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection
• 1 year after quitting — your risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half and your heart attack risk drops dramatically.
• 5 years after quitting — your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Your stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2 to 5 years.
• 10 years after quitting — your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. Your risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
• 15 years after quitting — your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
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We know quitting smoking isn’t easy. But your chances of success definitely improve if you get a little help. Counseling and medication double or even triple your chances of quitting successfully, so don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about getting some support. You can also visit The American Cancer Society website to find tools and resources that can help you quit, so you don't have to do it alone.