“Smoking is injurious to health”, you have probably read this statement many times but have you ever thought that you should quit smoking.
Smoking is not only bad for your health, it is also terrible for people around you. Passive smoking is equally dangerous to people and can lead to similar health conditions.
If you have not yet thought of quitting, read this article to find out why you should now.
However, you should first know the effects of smoking on your health.
Let’s begin!
Facts About Smoking
After decades of research, people are well aware that it is not good for your health.
Not only does it cause health problems it also renders treatments and medications useless.
One of the most prominent health diseases is lung disease. Smoking cessation can save you from that in the long term.
Unfortunately, passive smokers also fall victim to the dangers of it when they do not even smoke.
However, its hazards are the most apparent on the smokers themselves.
Smokers live about 10 years less than that of their fellow nonsmokers.
In fact, for a single person that dies because of smoking, 30 people have a disease caused by it.
This is because it is known that cigarette smoke has about 7,000 chemicals. out of which 70 can cause cancer.
Moreover, if tobacco use continues as it does today, 8 million people will lose their lives yearly to it by 2030.
Smoking may cause many illnesses but the most common causes of death are stroke, heart diseases, COPD and cancer.
One of the leading cancer death cause is lung cancer. 80 percent of people who die from lung cancer are smokers.
In fact, even light smokers who smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day have 20 times more chances of developing lung cancer than nonsmokers.
Plus people who smoke less than 5 cigarettes are 5 times more susceptible to lung cancer.
One cigarette has 1 milligram of nicotine which is enough to cause addiction.
Tobacco remains one of the most common causes of preventable death in the world.
Hence, this addiction is preventable and curable as long as you are willing to take the initiative.
Read below to know why you should definitely quit smoking, the sooner the better.
Reasons to Quit Smoking
If you are thinking about incorporating this change in your life then you are on the right track.
Quit smoking to ensure that you and your friends and family live a healthy, peaceful life.
Here are the reasons why you should quit smoking and what positive change it can bring in your life.
Is this surprising? Well, many people underplay that smoking affects secondhand smokers, (also known as passive smokers) too.
If people around you inhale second-hand smoke then they are still prone to lung cancer by 24 percent and heart disease by 25 percent.
In fact, children are more at risk as they are more likely to breathe faster and inhale harmful chemicals.
Hence, respiratory infections and diseases are much more common in children with exposure to second-hand smoke.
Interestingly, passive smokers are also more likely to snore than nonsmokers. 20 percent of nonsmokers who are passive smokers are likely to snore.
Hence, if you want to save your family and friends, you should aim to leave it soon.
-
Decrease the Chance of Diseases
Smoking can lead to heart diseases, high blood pressure, acid reflux, cancer and other diseases.
It may also worsen your oral health and lead to tooth decay and cavities. You will only be able to cure them with the procedure of Dental Fillings.
Therefore if you stop you can avoid the risk of many physical and oral health problems.
However, as much as you smoke, the more you increase your risk of getting these diseases.
-
Increase Your Life Expectancy
Do you think it’s quite late to quit smoking? Not at all, it is never too late to take this step.
It can decrease your life expectancy by 3 years. People who even stop in their 60’s can increase their life expectancy by 3 years.
Your breathing returns to normal only 72 hours after you smoke a cigarette.
Your circulation improves in the next few weeks and about a year later you are half as prone to heart diseases in comparison with a current smoker.
It takes 10 years of no smoking for your risk of lung cancer to be half of that of a smoker. Hence, your risk of developing these diseases will decrease over time which would lead to a higher life expectancy.
Fun Fact: If you quit smoking by the age of 40 you are 90 percent less prone to die from a disease caused by it.
-
It Isn’t Hard to Quit Smoking
You may have this misconception that it is extremely hard to let go of. Actually, the benefits of quitting are much more than the work you need to quit.
Quitting is not that hard. More on that later.
However, it does take time, work and conscious effort. If you are consistent and determined then you can make it through.
Moreover, if you think that the benefits of quitting like higher life expectancy and better health are much more advantageous than the work required to quit then you may not find it as hard.
You need the determination to fight the addiction and you may feel the fear of letting go but you should not delay it.
You will always feel this fear when you think of getting rid of this nicotine addiction. However, once you manage to do it, you will be able to reap the benefits.
Quit smoking and feel much healthier and fit. It is easy to get breathless and face difficulty while doing physical activities when you are a smoker.
Moreover, smokers cough more and are more prone to a sore throat. Therefore, if you stop, you will not have a stuffy nose and will have more tolerance for exercise and physical work.
Quitting helps to increase your lung capacity up to 10 percent in 10 months. Hence, walking, running, jogging and other light physical exercises will become comparatively easy.
This will also help reduce the risks of respiratory problems and will aid you in improving the condition of other diseases such as diabetes and arthritis.
A lesser-known fact about stopping is that it also improves your appearance.
You will get discoloration and teeth stains by constantly smoking. These can go away with a Dental Zoom Whitening treatment. Though, you can always stop and see the change in your teeth yourself.
Smoking can also darken your lips and form wrinkles as well as make your skin dull. It increases skin aging and the signs are apparent in your looks.
However, as you stop smoking there is a significant change in your teeth, yellow nails and face.
The signs of aging will start to reverse as soon as 2 weeks after you quit smoking.
Quitting smoking overall improves your quality of life. It can improve your physical, mental and sexual wellbeing.
Moreover, it may also improve your 5 senses and you can taste and smell things better.
You will save a lot of money that you spend on it and you can live a fit and healthy life without fearing the risk of diseases smoking brings with itself.
This process may take some time and consistency but it is worth it.
If you need help to stop then you surely should get it.
How to Quit Smoking?
Everyone’s pattern of smoking, addiction and habits are different.
Hence, you may not follow a generalized plan to stop this addiction.
You need to visit a tobacco specialist or a doctor to analyze your smoking patterns, your readiness to quit and your learning methods.
This will help them devise a treatment plan which includes behavioral therapy and medicines.
They will give you tobacco treatment medications or nicotine alternatives such as nicotine gum or patches.
Alongside they will encourage group counseling, exercise and reading.
In order to stop, they will refer you to the PQRS Strategy. This strategy involves:
Give yourself at least 14 to 30 days before you leave it. This is because you should prepare your mind as well as your body so that you are well aware of what you are doing. Moreover, make sure you are medically reviewed and have been following proper medical advice.
After half a month or month, you can quit smoking. Though be prepared for withdrawals and nicotine replacement therapy can come in handy in controlling the urge. You can also get anti-craving drugs to control and not give in back.
It is very easy to relapse but you have to control the urge to smoke. Hence, understand the situations and reasons that may cause you to take the cigarette again and adopt skills that will help you to prevent from relapsing.
Your withdrawal symptoms and nicotine withdrawal may be strong but you will have to resist. This happens strongly if you go cold turkey.
Most people slip into cigarette smoking when they want to deal with stress. However, its effects are quite the opposite on your body.
Tobacco increases your heart rate, constricts your blood vessels and also increases your blood pressure. This in return makes your heart and other organs of the body work harder than usual.
Therefore it actually puts stress on your body rather than taking it away. That said, you should find an alternative to cope up with stress and releasing it in a healthy way to improve your mental health.
Conclusion
It is not that hard to quit smoking however, it is a task that you have to carry out with unwavering willpower and determination.
It is better to stop soon enough so that you do not bear the consequences for a long time.
You will find it easy to get back to a fit and healthy life if you quit it sooner than later.
So what are you still waiting for?
