The Tobacco Partnership is committed to preventing tobacco use among young people, promoting cessation among current smokers, and eliminating non-smokers' exposure to secondhand smoke.

Cessation

Quitting smoking is very difficult, but the changes that happen are almost immediate.

• Blood pressure will decrease to the person's normal reading within 20 minutes after the last cigarette.
• The pulse rate will decrease to the person's normal rate within 20 minutes.
• Body temperature of the extremities (hands and feet) will increase to the person's normal temperature within 20 minutes.
• The blood carbon monoxide level will decrease to the person's normal amount within eight hours; the blood will carry the person's normal amount of oxygen with eight hours.
• The person's chance of a heart attack will decrease within 24 hours.
• The nerve endings will start to relax after 48 hours after stopping smoking completely. The person will smell and taste things better.
• The bronchial tubes will start to relax after 72 hours. The person will breathe better; air will come in easier and the lung capacity will increase.
• Circulation and walking will improve within 2 weeks to 3 months after stopping smoking.
• The cilia will grow back within 6-9 months. This allows a person to help handle the mucus, clean out the lungs, and make for better breathing as well as lung function. It also reduces chances of infection and increases the person's energy level.
• Cough, sinus, congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath will be reduced within 1-9 months.
• Replacement of pre-cancerous cells takes 10 years. The lung cancer death rate for the average smoker (one pack a day) is 137 per 100,000. After stopping 5-9 years, the rate drops almost one-half to 72 per 100,000. Stopping for 10 years or more drops it down to 12 per 100,000 - almost the level of a non-smoker.
• Reduction of other cancers caused by smoking, such as mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas occurs.

Want to Quit Smoking?

Iowa has a toll free quitline: Quitline Iowa
1-866-U-CAN-TRY
1-866-822-6879
Web Site: QuitNet

Secondhand Smoke

• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of death in this country, responsible for 53,000 deaths a year in the U.S. among healthy non-smoking adults. 3,000 of these deaths are from lung cancer.
• Approximately 500 Iowans die each year from cancer and heart or lung disease caused by secondhand smoke.
• For every 8 smokers who die of tobacco related disease, one nonsmoker dies.
• Secondhand smoke has been classified by the EPA as a class 'A' carcinogen, a substance known to cause cancer in humans. It contains 4,000 chemical compounds including over 40 that are know carcinogens.

There is NO safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand Smoke and Children

• Smoking or regularly breathing secondhand smoke while pregnant may cause a miscarriage.
• Women who smoke or regularly breath secondhand smoke while pregnant may have babies that are born too soon (premature) or too small (low birth weight).
• Infants who are exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Secondhand smoke can increase a child's risk of ear infections.
• Because children's lungs are growing and developing, they are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to develop pneumonia, bronchitis, and other lung diseases.
• Children who breathe secondhand smoke can have more asthma attacks and the episodes can be more severe.
• Secondhand smoke may also cause thousands of healthy children to develop asthma each year.

High levels of exposure to secondhand smoke in childhood and adolescence account for up to 17% of adult lung cancers in nonsmokers.

Secondhand Smoke and Restaurants

• Separate smoking and non-smoking sections in bars and restaurants do NOT protect nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Smoke rapidly diffused throughout a room.
• Ventilation systems do NOT protect nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. They may rid the air of visible smoke, but the carcinogens remain.
• Restaurant and bar workers have 3 to 6 times more exposure to secondhand smoke than other workers.
• People routinely exposed to secondhand smoke, such as restaurant and bar workers, can see their risk of lung cancer triple.
• Waitresses have the highest death rate of any female occupation group. They have a 4 times higher rate of death from lung cancer and a 2 1/2 times higher rate of death from heart disease.
• Owners of restaurants that allow smoking could be liable if an employee develops an illness from breathing secondhand smoke.

Secondhand Smoke, Smoking and Businesses

• Many workers must breathe secondhand smoke all day, every workday. It may not be possible for them to change jobs for economic or other reasons.
• For most workers who smoke, cigarette smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any hazard in the workplace. The costs of smoking to the employer are significant. Some factors that contribute to smokers costing employers more than nonsmokers:
  • Absenteeism
  • Health insurance and life insurance costs and claims
  • Worker's compensation payments and occupational health awards
  • Accidents and fires, and related insurance costs
  • Property damage, and related insurance costs
  • Smoke pollution and increased cleaning and maintenance costs
  • Illness among nonsmokers exposed to passive smoke
• Employers who have banned smoking have reported a dramatic decrease in maintenance costs.
• Fire risk and subsequent insurance costs decrease when a business goes smoke-free.
• Most smokers accept smoke-free policies, since 90% of all smokers want to quit smoking.

If you are a business interested in pursuing smoke-free policies, the Henry County Tobacco Coalition has an excellent Decision Maker's Guide available. Please call Jennifer Lehman at 385-8126 for your copy.

Resources:

Just Eliminate Lies Tobacco Free Kids EPA: Environmental Tobacco Smoke