For
those needing a bit more motivation to quit smoking, a physician
suggests focusing on the thousands of dollars a smoker will keep in his
or her pocket. Dr. Carlos Reynes of Loyola University Health System’s
Gottlieb Memorial Hospital said at $7 to $9 a pack, those with a
pack-a-day habit spend about $2,500 to $3,300 each year. “Improved
health also will save you trips to the doctor,” Reynes said. But not
only do the wealth benefits kick in immediately, so do the health
benefits, Reynes said. “Twenty minutes after quitting, your heart rate
and blood pressure drop. Twelve hours after quitting, the carbon
monoxide level in your blood drops to normal,” Reynes said. “One year
after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that
of a continuing smokers.” The Great American Smoke Out on November 17th
is expected to have thousands of smokers take a 24-hour break from
cigarettes
