Mental Health : Another Reason To Quit Smoking
If you’re a smoker, you’ve probably been given a million reasons by friends and family why you should kick the habit. Here’s one you can add to the list. In one study, smokers scored lower than people who have never smoked on tests measuring memory, speed of cognitive processes, cognitive flexibility and global cognitive function. At the five-year follow-up the decline suffered by smokers roughly doubled that of those who had never smoked. Smokers also scored worse in terms of depression, nervousness and feelings of energy and fatigue. The study concluded that smokers experienced roughly twice as much cognitive decline as their non-smoking counterparts.
Smoking also increases risk for heart disease. To learn your risk for developing heart disease, take our free online risk assessment called Heart Aware. For more information, or to find a physician, call St. John’s Referral One at 625.2000 or visit our online events calendar at stj.com.
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