WELL
NOW
A Health Newsletter Published By The Student Health Center
THE
GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT
HUIT SMOKING FOR
24 HOURS
NOVEMBER 18, 1982
WHEN YOU OUIT...
Purina the first 12 hours
""'Most research suggests that within 12
hours after your last cigarette, your body
Immediately begins to heal Itself. The
level of carbon monoxide 1n your system
will raoldlv decline and vour heart and lungs
will beqin to repair the damage caused
by cigarette smoke. The risk of having a
heart attack or developing lunq cancer begins
to decline.
During the first 3 days
As vour body begVns to repair Itself, in
stead of feel1nq better you may not feel any
different. Or vou mav feel worse; you may
experience shortness of breath, tightness in
the chest, coughing, qastro-lntestinal pains,
sweating, headaches, blurred vision, sleep
lessness. Irritability and depression. But
these unpleasant after-effects of quitting
are temporary. Your body is recovering and
readlustlnq. To help speed the recovery,
be sure that vou eat a sensible diet, and
drink lots of fluids (6 to 8 glasses of
water a day) to wash the toxins out of your
body. Get plenty of exercise, fresh air and
s1eep.
During the first few weeks
You may have more energy and be able to
breathe easier. Your sense of smell and
taste will Improve and 1f you had a smoker's
couoh, 1t will disappear. Your digestive
system will begin to return to normal, and
1f vou are prone to headaches, you'll prob
ably have fewer.
During the second and third month
The worst 1s definitely behind you.
Unfortunately, *any fall at this stage
after a successful start. Every time you
are tempted, ask yourself this question:
Is the unpleasantness of quitting really
worth that clqarette?
Some quitters feel that giving up cig
arettes 1s like losing a best friend.
When vou find you're dwelling on the emo
tional loss, think about your personal
qains: becoming healthier and stronger.
And remember, your body 1s your best
friend.
Reorlnted from Shape ^rjTe-Up, Seattle,
Washington (September 1982).