Are you a smoker? Thinking about quitting? You don’t have to do it alone! Getting some help is not a sign of weakness.

Benefits according to time since quitting

12 hours - Almost all nicotine has been metabolized
24 hours - Carbon monoxide levels drop markedly
2 days - Cleaner breath and hair
5 days - Sense of taste and smell improve
3 months - Cilia begin to recover and lung function improves
1 year - Risk of coronary heart disease halved, compared with smoker
10 years - Risk of lung cancer less than half of risk for continuing smoker, and continues to fall
15 years - Risk of coronary heart disease same as for non-smoker

What can help you quit smoking?
• Using Quitline
• Talking to your GP about difficulties you are experiencing
• Using some form of medication to help you with nicotine withdrawal
• Finding someone to support you (couples who quit together improve their chance of succeeding)
• Making sure you have a plan tackling the three main areas—withdrawal from nicotine, breaking the habit and dealing with the psychological aspects of smoking

For more help, call Quitline 13 QUIT (13 7848), or come to the Quit Smoking Information nights:
Palmerston Tuesday 1 June 2010 5.30pm Gray Community Hall
Casuarina Thursday 3 June 2010 7.00pm Casuarina Library Community Meeting Room (Bradshaw Terrace, Casuarina).