Did you know that smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the world?

Smoking has a correlation with diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Making the decision to quit smoking can be very difficult and challenging but the health benefits can be felt immediately.

According to the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, some of these health benefits include one’s blood pressure and heart rate returning to within normal range just after eight hours of not having a cigarette. And long-term benefits include a decrease in the risk of developing heart disease and cancer.

It is never too late to make the decision to quit smoking. The risk of developing chronic illnesses can be decreased within a short time frame even for long-term smokers.

Looking for support to quit smoking? Visit the Smokers Helpline website here to register for online programs and text-message support.

You can also learn more about the supports available to help you a this Ontario Health website. Topics include everything from medical treatments to tips to help you quit; and counselling and support groups.