The Why Quit Quiz?

Circle all that apply:

1. The life expectancy of the man who has never smoked is:

1. 12 years longer.
2. 10 years longer.
3. 7 years longer.
4. 5 years longer.

2. Smoking even one cigarette has important health consequences for the body. It:

1. Increases the heart rate.
2. increases blood pressure.
3. lowers skin temperature in the fingers and toes.
4. all of these.

3. The chief immediate benefit to the person who quits smoking is:

1. social. (The smoker immediately becomes more acceptable in society.)
2. cosmetic, such as cleaner breath and clearer skin.
3. an immediate drop in the likelihood of suffering sudden death.
4. an immediate drop in the likelihood of developing lung cancer.

4. In addition to increased oxygen flow and blood circulation, these symptoms improve or disappear shortly after quitting:

1. Coughing spells.
2. Chronic shortness of breath.
3. Red and irritated eyes.
4. Excess sweating.

5. When a pregnant woman stops smoking she is:

1. likely to have a larger and healthier baby.
2. less likely to have delivery complications.
3. less likely to produce a retarded child.
4. less likely to introduce toxins such as carbon monoxide and nicotine into the system of her developing child.

6. A precancerous cell from the lung of a smoker who gives up cigarettes would:

1. disappear.
2. remain unchanged.
3. continue on the road to malignancy.
4. become normal.

7. There are hairlike structures in the lungs called cilia. In the lungs of the chronic smoker the cilia are paralyzed, leaving the lungs prey to disease agents. What happens to these structures when the smoker quits?

1. New cilia replace the old ones.
2. The paralyzed hairs resume their normal function.
3. They regain some of their former efficiency.
4. The cilia remain static, while the lung compensates for their inactivity.

8. The benefit to the heart associated with giving up one pack of cigarettes a day is the equivalent of losing in excess weight:

1. 10 to 20 pounds.
2. 30 to 50 pounds.
3. 50 to 75 pounds.
4. 80 pounds or more.

Reprinted with permission from the American Cancer Society, originated by the Massachusetts Division, Inc.

Answers