It's never too late to quit

All over the Mat-Su Valley yesterday, smokers observed the Great American Smokeout by putting away their cigarettes for 24 hours.

For those who made it through that day and have the will to continue living without tobacco, we commend you. For the many others who want to quit but just can't resist that urge to light up, here are a few thoughts that might help strengthen your resolve, courtesy of the American Cancer Society:

Twenty minutes after quitting: blood pressure drops to a level close to that before the last cigarette and the temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.

Eight hours after quitting: the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal.

Twenty-four hours after quitting: your chance of having a heart attack decreases.

Two weeks to three months after quitting: your circulation improves and lung function increases up to 30 percent.

One to nine months after quitting: coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease; your cilia regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.

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

Five years after quitting: your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker's five-15 years after quitting.

Ten years after quitting: the lung cancer death rate falls to about half that of a continuing smoker's and the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

Fifteen years after quitting: your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

A life without tobacco offers a fresh, beautiful world filled with rediscovered smells, tastes and the knowledge that you have vastly improved the length and quality of your life.

And if your desire for a smoke is greater than your desire for these things, then think of something else - your loved ones.

Imagine the agony your husband or wife and other loved ones would go through if you ended up in a hospital bed (or coffin) because of emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease or a stroke.

Imagine what your second-hand smoke might be doing to their lungs or, even worse, how you would feel if you knew your example inspired your precious children or grandchildren to wreck their own lives and health with cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco.

It's never too late to throw tobacco out of your life, and we wish you ex-smokers-to-be the best of luck!

Editorials are written by the Frontiersman's editorial board, consisting of Kari Sleight, Tracy Wilson, Eowyn LeMay Ivey, Casey Ressler, Eric Burkett, Rindi White, Jo Goode, Gene Jansen and Tataboline Brant.