Negative Effects of Smoking

• The average smoker will die about eight years earlier than a similar non-smoker.
• Smoking permanently damages the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs, making it hard to breathe.
• According to Health Canada, close to half of all smokers will die from smoking before they turn 70 years old.
• Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease and stroke by contributing to build up of plaque in arteries, increased risk of blood clots, increased blood pressure and reduced oxygen in the blood.

As soon as you become smoke-free, your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease. Within one year, your chance of dying from smoking-related heart disease is cut in half. Within 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. After 15 years, your risk of dying from a heart attack will be equal to that of a person who never smoked.

However, it’s important to remember that it’s never too late to quit. Visit “Rewards of Quitting” to understand the benefits of being smoke-free.