This month’s
System News examines Penn Medicine’s research on tobacco dependence, why adolescents start smoking, and how basic science may hold the key to getting smokers to kick the habit. If you or your dependents are trying to quit smoking, Penn Medicine’s
WellFocused tobacco cessation program may be just the support you need!
The 13-week program offers free telephonic counseling, free nicotine replacement products (patch, lozenge, or gum) mailed to your home, and access to a judgment-free “quit smoking” coach who understands and respects your personal needs, circumstances, and health status. To learn more, check out the UPHS HR and You website.
“UPHS cares about the physical and emotional well-being of all our employees and strives to create a culture of health,” said Jennifer Brady, MA, RD, LDN, manager of Employee Health and Well-Being. “We have done everything we can to remove the barriers to success – including the financial barriers – and we’re committed to providing access to resources to help those making the decision to quit.”
Research shows that if you pick a “quitting date” in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to end your tobacco use for good. But why quit?
- 20 minutes after quitting: heart rate and blood pressure drop
- 12 hours: carbon monoxide level drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months: circulation improves and lung function increases
- 1 to 9 months: coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures in the lungs) regain normal function, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
- 1 year: excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s
- 5 years: risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half; cervical cancer risk falls to that of a nonsmoker; stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2 to 5 years
- 10 years: lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker; risks of cancer of the larynx and pancreas decrease
- 15 years: risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s