September « 2008 « Quit Smoking Now

September 7, 2008

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Filed under: Stop Smoking — Tags: Benefits, Quitting Smoking, Stopping Smoking — admin @ 7:22 pm

The benefits of quitting smoking are numerous. Besides all the health benefits you find yourself with more time, more money, and more energy. I quit just over a year ago and I still discover new benefits daily. I have a better relationship with my family and co-workers. My senses grow stronger daily, recently I’ve noticed even food has better taste. I also learned I was no longer a slave to smoking, no more being an outsider to get my fix. No missing out on family conversations while I stepped outside, or having to plan out my day according to my habit. Shortly after I quit I had one of the worst head colds I’ve ever had, but I’ve not had one since. It was the seventh attempt for me, it was difficult, but even still I believe it was worth it.

Former smokers who’ve quit before age fifty have one-half the risk of dying in the next fifteen years compared with those who continue to smoke. With decreased risk of lung cancer, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung diseases the former smoker can expect a longer, healthier life. You may gain a little weight when you quit, an average of ten pounds, but once you start feeling better you’ll be able to drop it quickly and easily.

There are still benefits to quitting after fifty, the risks are still greatly reduced. Determining your risk factors depends on how long and how much you smoked. The argument of “why quit the damage is done” is not valid. Yes there is damage, it still doesn’t mean you can’t heal and feel better. Every year you don’t smoke your risk of cancer and other related smoking diseases decreases. If you’ve already contracted a disease due to smoking, quitting will aid in your treatment and recovery.

Controlling your weight after giving up smoking could be a benefit to your lungs. Lung function declines with age, smoking increases the decline. After you’ve quit, and you are comfortable with your new smoke free life, start a new health regime. Even just a pleasant walk every day will help control your weight, benefit your cardiovascular system, and strengthen your lungs.

The benefits of quitting outweigh the difficulties of quitting by far. Ask for support from family and friends, get whatever help you may need, set your quit date and start enjoying the benefits of being a quitter.

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September 6, 2008

Dangers of Smoking

Filed under: Stop Smoking — Tags: Dangers, Smoking — admin @ 4:59 pm

It’s amazing how little smokers know about the dangers of smoking with all the information that is out there. Every smoker knows about the possibilities of lung cancer and emphysema, it’s also the major single cause of cancer mortality. Many don’t know it’s related to other cancers such as bladder and pancreatic cancer. Even facial wrinkles can be attributed to smoking. Smokers generally have higher medical costs than non-smokers.

Half of all smokers will die because of the habit, talk about a danger. Smoking is responsible for about thirty percent of all cancer deaths. Smoking has also been attributed to leukemias. Eighty seven percent of lung cancer deaths are smokers. Lung cancer is the most difficult to treat and one that can be prevented.

If that isn’t enough, cancer deaths are only about half of smoking related deaths. Other dangers associated with smoking are heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, stroke, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, facial swelling, and overall weakness. When smokers get any type of upper respiratory ailment, they have twice the healing time that non-smokers have.

Reduced fertility, high risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and infant death all have links to smoking. Gum disease, cataracts, bone thinning, hip fractures, and peptic ulcers are all dangers to those who continue to smoke.

Smoking affects every organ in the body, causes many diseases, and affects those around us. In 2000 the Center for Disease Control reported that over eight million people had at least one chronic disease that was related to smoking, many of these people had more than one. All these diseases steal quality of life away from the people who have them, it limits activities, struggling to breathe makes it difficult to get around.

Secondhand smoke has harmful dangers as well. Children of smokers, on average, are more likely to have upper respiratory ailments such as chronic bronchitis or asthma. Even common ailments like colds and ear infections are twice as common in children of smokers.

Smokers and ex-smokers have to be more aware of the dangers they face. It’s important to make sure your doctor knows so you get the preventative care you need. You will also want to pay attention to any other signs or symptoms, like checking the inside of your mouth for changes, a change in cough or a new cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, or trouble breathing should be reported to your doctor immediately.

No one can stress the importance of being aware of these dangers and to pay attention to what your body tells you.

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