News Release

2008

Nov 18

Health Dept., Cancer Society Urge Participation in ‘Smokeout’

Join the Great American Smokeout! The Riverside County Department of Public Health (Tobacco Control Project) and the American Cancer Society challenges you to take the single most important step of your life: Quit using tobacco for 24 hours on November 20, 2008. (Use this opportunity to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good)

When a craving hits, it may seem intense. However, evidence shows cravings subside in about two minutes. It's a good idea to find something else to do during your cravings; take a walk, drink water, eat candy, etc. For more suggestions or assistance in quitting smoking, please call the Riverside County Department of Public Health's Tobacco Control Project at 951.358.4977 (see attachment for the 2009 smoking cessation class schedule).

Reminder: Riverside County Ordinance No. 866 prohibits smoking on County-owned or leased property, except in designated areas. Facilities Management, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, is in the process of designating a "Smoking Area" for each building. Once signage is posted, a first-time violation is punishable by a $25.00 fine. For information about Ordinance No. 866, please call Thomas Thorpe (Facilities Management) at 951.955.8124.

Here’s a schedule of upcoming smoking cessation classes, including right here in the desert in Indio.

Riverside County Department of Public Health

Tobacco Control Project/Smoking Cessation CLASSES

Schedule for 2009

Dates	Locations	Follow-Up Dates	Times / Days
January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009	RCRMC , Room A1021	February 25, 2009	3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Wednesdays
March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009	Hemet, Conference Room	April 30, 2009	3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Thursdays
June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009	Indio, Conference Room	July 30, 2009	3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Thursdays
September 3, 10, 17, 24, 2009	RCRMC, Room A1021	Oct. 29, 2009	3:00 pm– 5:00 pm, Thursdays

No time to attend classes? Call the California Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-NO-BUTTS for free counseling!

When Smokers Quit -- Benefits of Quitting Over Time

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

(Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure Amplification, Mahmud, A, Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension:41:183.)

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202)

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194,196, 285, 323)

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304)

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164,166)

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.

(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)