Why and How You Should Stop Smoking

4 minutes

Last update: 07 July, 2015

The World Health Organization estimates that, each year, 6 million people die from cigarette-related deaths. Is this enough to convince you to stop smoking? Even if you don’t care about your own health, think of the 600,000 passive smokers who die annually. Smoking: what is it good for? Absolutely nothing – apart from filling the coffers of the tobacco industry. It’s one of the most common – and most harmful – addictions there is. There are up to four thousand toxins in cigarettes, most of which are given off in their combustive state. These are what make them so dangerous for your health…and they’re what endanger your life.

What are the consequences of your smoking habit?

It’s rare that people escape unscathed from a cigarette addiction. Most habitual smokers will suffer some sort of health consequence that can potentially lead to premature death. From relatively minor to major, here are a few examples:

Bad breath or halitosis is caused by nicotine. It’s difficult to alleviate if you’re a habitual smoker and your friends may find your breath offensive.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer that results from smoking addiction. It severely affects the respiratory system and is often fatal.
Other types of cancers caused by smoking are those of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix/uterus, kidney and bladder.
Diseases of the circulatory system are common amongst those who smoke. Tobacco and nicotine reduce the thickness of the arteries and coronary vessels – but they increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Diseases of the respiratory system are directly linked to smoking. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are just two of the most frequently occurring conditions.
Cerebrovascular diseases such as aneurysms are another frightening consequence of a chronic smoking addiction.
Male impotence and a low sex drive are known side effects.

Will you see benefits when you stop smoking?

So, what do we need to say to convince you? If you’ve been postponing the inevitable, why? There’s no time like the present to crush your nasty habit. After all, this is a lethal addiction is lethal that doesn’t just negatively affect you. It also threatens the health of those nearest you. If you’ve let ciggies get the better of you. now’s your chance to change course and start leading a healthy life that – we hope – is free from chronic disease.

Need more reasons to stop smoking? Try these on for size:

It takes just two days of abstinence from smoking or tobacco for the carbon monoxide and nicotine to disappear. This means increased oxygen levels in your blood and an improved physical appearance.
After three or four days, there’s a significant reduction in the mucus of your throat and bronchi. You’ll begin to breathe more easily.
From five to seven days of abstinence, you’ll begin to notice enhanced ability to taste and smell.
Lung function improves by 5% after about three months.
Your risk of cardiovascular disease decreases by 50% after just one year.
Five years after you quit smoking, you reduce by half the risk of suffering throat, oesophagus and bladder cancer. By this time, you’ll likely be completely free of your addiction without any need for the taste of tobacco or the effects of nicotine.
Stopping smoking is also a huge boost for your emotional health. Without the constant gnawing of addiction, you’ll have more control over your life. Additionally, you’ll likely have saved enough to go on a nice, long holiday!

Get ready to rumble (your bad habit)!

Here’s the plan…

Ready to quit? Sure, you are! We’re going to help you with some effective recommendations.

Set a date! Choose a day in the future that will see you completely free of your habit. Reduce your daily consumption so that, by the time the date rolls round, your last cigarette is a distant memory.
Purge the house. Bin every cigarette and ashtray. Chuck out your lighters and avoid anything else that reminds you of tobacco. Wash anything that smells of tobacco.
Adopt healthy options. When you feel that familiar yearning creeping up on you, grab some fruit instead of a cigarette. You’ll find specialised gum, too, that is designed to ease the anxiety caused by detoxification from nicotine. Drink water or tea. You’ll be surprised how well they take the edge off your nerves.
Try to identify the times when your cravings peak. If you can do this, you can develop strategies to avoid them. Staying busy is a great distraction. Read, exercise, visit with friends or spend time with your family.
Devise an exercise routine and stick to it! You’ll improve your health and put the kibosh on the cravings, too.
Look for support groups to help you through your addiction. People who’ve been through the process can help you with good strategies. They have the experience to guide you as you wave bye-bye to your bad habit.
Crunching through carrots, apples or celery can relieve cravings.
Don’t be afraid to ask your friends not to smoke around you. Tell them not to offer you a cigarette. Be honest and upfront about your plan to quit.
Take breaks at work – but instead of filling your lungs with toxins, fill them with fresh air. Go for a stroll. Drink fresh water and eat healthy foods.

You know what? You can do this. We know you can. Now, all you need to do is start!