| For
New Adult Readers and English as a Second Language
Students
Brought
to you by the Four County Community
Foundation |
| |
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|
How
much time do you waste?
Studies
have shown that average smokers lose 7 minutes off
their lives every cigarette they smoke.
That's
a lot of minutes when you total it all up. A pack-a-day
smoker loses 2 hours and 20 minutes each day.
That's
35 days each year - days you can never get back. |
And
that's not all the time loss cigarettes cause.
Each time a smoker takes a break to light up, more
time escapes.
Do you spend 5 minutes on a cigarette break? 10 minutes?
For a pack-a-day smoker, that's
as much as 2 -3 hours a day.
What could you do with a few extra
hours each day?
-Go to a movie.
-Go to the zoo.
-Play a game with your children.
-Get some healthy exercise.
-Go to a ball game.
-Take a nap.
-Visit a friend or relative.
-Cut the grass.
-Attend an English conversation group.
-Meet with your reading partner.
-Read with your child.
You probably have dozens of things you would add
to this list.
You can accomplish a lot when you
string all those minutes together.
|
Did
you know? |
| Children
exposed to tobacco smoke in the home are more likely
to develop breathing problems, ear infections, and
allergies.
Babies
of parents who smoke are more likely to die from
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Smoking
1 cigar is equal to smoking 10 cigarettes.
Cigarette
smoke carries 40 cancer causing chemicals, including
ammonia and arsenic. |
Important
Information |
| 25%
of Americans smoke cigarettes.
Every year 1 million children and adults start smoking.
Most
smokers start smoking before they are 18.
Over
38% of Michigan high school students smoke cigarettes.
Smoking-related
illnesses claim the lives of 400,000 people each
year.
The risk is higher the longer you smoke and the
younger you were when you started.
Most
people know that smoking is linked to lung
cancer.
Many
people don't know about other health risks:
Health
risks from smoking are higher if you have
diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Nicotine
increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Smoking
also increases the risk of blood clots.
Carbon
monoxide is a harmful gas found in cigarette
smoke.
This
means less oxygen can get to the heart and to other
parts of the body.
This
can lead to hardening of the arteries.
It
can also increase the chance of a stroke. |
| Smoking
can lead to many breathing problems: lung
infections, like chronic bronchitis, and long-term
lung diseases, like emphysema. |
 |
Do
you know? |
| Who
is sitting next to you when you light up?
If
this person has allergies, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis,
or heart problems, your smoke may be endangering
their health.
Life,
health, and disability insurance policies
cost less for non-smokers. Being smoke-free
will even make a difference on your homeowner's
policy rate. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Smoke
- Free Autumn |
|  Visit your local library - a great smoke -
free environment with lots of programs and activities.
Take
a class - check out community services
bulletins from your school district, the community
college, or your local parks and recreation department.
Rake
leaves with your neighbors - let them witness
how great you're doing.
Wash
the windows and clean the garage - it's
not easy to reach for a cigarette when you're stretching
for those corners with the spray bottle. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Smoke
- Free Winter |
| Drink
lots of water throughout the day. 
Avoid doing things that you used to do when
smoking. Did you smoke when you drank coffee?
Drink more fruit juice instead.
Keep
your mind and your hands busy. Start a
new hobby like jigsaw puzzles, jewelry making, wood
finishing, or building models. Clean out the closets.
Sort all your photographs. Paint the kitchen.
Get
some exercise! Go for a walk. Build a snowman
with the kids. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Smoke
- Free Spring |
|
 Wash the Walls in your favorite smoking
room. When you finish, take a good
look at the water in the bucket. That's right, everything
that didn't end up on the wall ended up in you!
Wash all your washables and take non-washables
to the dry cleaners. Air out your closet
so you're not reminded of the smell of smoking.
Save
that shirt or sweater with the ugly cigarette burn
and put it on a hanger right up front.
Each time you see it, you'll know you made the right
choice when you quit.
Get
rid of all the ash trays in your house.
If it's a keepsake, pack it up in a box in the attic.
Carry
small walking weights or squeeze balls
when you go for a walk. You will have something
to do with your hands. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Smoke
- Free Summer |
|  Drink lots of fluids - especially
water.
Work in the garden - it's hard
to smoke when you're up to your elbows in compost.
Go
for a walk - carry light hand weights to
keep your hands busy.
Volunteer
to help with a youth sports activity -
set a smoke-free example for the kids.
When
you go to the beach - spend more time in
the water.
Play
outside - breathe in that fresh air and
remember that last year you couldn't really smell
the flowers or the coming rain. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 Many people
need help to stop smoking.
There are many products to help people quit smoking.
Some (like nicotine patches and gum) are sold without
a prescription.
Others need a doctor's prescription.
It's a good idea to check with your doctor
before you use any stop smoking aid. |
Links |
| Don't
forget to check out what's at the library? |
