There are countless reasons to stop smoking. At this stage of your life, you have one more very important reason: your baby. Knowing that your baby is exposed to everything you are may provide that extra motivation you have been needing to successfully quit smoking.
Tobacco is the single greatest cause of disease and death in the United States and takes approximately 430,000 lives each year. An estimated 26,208 smoking attributable low birth weight babies were born in the U.S. in 2001. If a woman smokes, she is more likely to experience ectopic pregnancies and spontaneous abortions, and is 50% more likely to experience pre-term delivery, rupture of membranes, placental abruption, and placenta previa. Babies born to women who smoke:
- have a 30% higher chance of being born prematurely
- are 3 times more likely to die from SIDS
- may have impaired development of the brain and spinal cord
- have increased risk for asthma, respiratory problems and allergies
- require more hospitalizations
-
have increased chance of developing ADHD, conduct and behavior problems
(Centers for Disease Control, 2007)
Of course, your baby is not the only one who benefits when you quit smoking--you will too! For example, if you quit, you will:
- feel (and smell) better!
- do your lungs a big favor....in return, they will keep working longer for you!
- have a better sense of taste and smell!
- be healthier! (lower blood pressure and pulse, improve circulation, get more oxygen, get rid of chemical toxins, nerve endings regrow)
- reduce coughing episodes and shortness of breath!
- decrease your risk of several types of cancer and heart disease!
- have reduced aging and wrinkling of the skin!
- save money!
- be a great role model for your children, so they might always be smoke free!
For more information of the Effects of Pregnancy Smoking click here
Take a look at what you will experience after only*:
20 minutes
- blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal
- circulation to hands and feet improves
8 hours
- carbon monoxide levels drop and you begin to get more oxygen with each breath
24 hours
- your risk of having a heart attack decreases
48 hours
- nerve endings start to regenerate
- your ability to taste and smell is enhanced
2 weeks
- circulation continues to improve
- walking becomes easier
- lung function increases 30%
1 month
- coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
- cilia are repaired in the lungs, improving the ability to clean the lungs and reducing the chance of infection
- body's overall energy level increases
1 year
- your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
5 years
- lung cancer death rate decreases by almost half
- stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker
*Information provided by the American Cancer Society
The Cost of Smoking:
See How Much Money You Can Save by Quitting!
|
1 Day |
1 Week |
1 Month |
1 Year |
10 Years |
|
| 1/2 Pack |
$2.25 |
$15.75 |
$67.50 |
$819.00 |
$8,190.00 |
| 1 Pack |
$4.50 |
$31.50 |
$135.00 |
$1,638.00 |
$16,380.00 |
| 1 1/2 Pack |
$6.75 |
$47.25 |
$202.50 |
$2,457.00 |
$24,570.00 |
| 2 Packs |
$9.00 |
$63.00 |
$270.00 |
$3,276.00 |
$32,760.00 |