Yellow teeth; decreased energy; asthma; coronary heart disease; cancer of the mouth, throat or lungs; or even death. It may not happen to you, but are you willing to keep taking the risk?

If you smoke or use tobacco, 2011 may be the time for you to make a change for the better of your health, along with the health of your friends and family members who also may be affected by your tobacco use.
Blount Memorial Business Health registered nurse and programs nurse coordinator Sharon Johnson reminds that a brand new year is a good time to make a fresh start.
“Perhaps you have been thinking about changes that you want to make and changes that you might be willing to make,” she says. “If you feel that you are ready to make a change — excellent. Capitalize on your current motivating factors to make the change, and formulate a plan for success.”
The proof is in the numbers, and chances are, we all have known someone who has had long-term health problems due to tobacco use. The good news is, it is preventable if you act now. “Cigarette smoking is considered the No. 1 cause of preventable disease and death in the United States,” Johnson says. Not to mention, your health will immediately improve once you quit.”
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate drops. Within 12 hours of quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
From two weeks to three months after quitting, your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve. From one to nine months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
Johnson says that long-term benefits include: One year after quitting, added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
Five years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker’s.
Ten years after quitting, lung cancer death risk is about half that of a smoker’s. Risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.
Fifteen years after quitting, risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a non-smoker’s.
You know the risks, but it’s easy to put quitting off until tomorrow. You have to be ready — are you? Ask yourself: Do you want to quit using tobacco for yourself?
Have you tried to quit before?
Will you be patient if you backslide in your efforts to quit? Are you committed to quitting even though it may be tough at first?
Do you believe that smoking is hazardous to your health? Do you have a support network of friends, family member or coworkers?
Do you have personal reasons (other than health) for wanting to quit?
If you answered yes to five or more of these questions, you are ready to quit. If you answered no to four or more questions, you may need more time and information on the benefits of quitting smoking.
(Source: The Daily Times.com)