Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. It’s also one of the hardest. If you’re ready to quit, you can find support and information here to help make quitting as easy as possible.
Table of Contents
The risks of smoking
Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. Each year, more than 8 million people die from smoking-related illnesses, including lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Smoking is also a major risk factor for other cancers, including bladder, pancreas, and throat cancer. In addition, smoking damages nearly every organ in your body, including your lungs, heart, blood vessels, and reproductive organs.
If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of premature death and chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. It also improves your overall health and quality of life.
The benefits of quitting smoking
Despite its well-known risks, many people find it difficult to quit smoking. If you’re one of those people, don’t despair. Quitting smoking is hard, but it’s not impossible. And the rewards are definitely worth the effort. Here are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy when you finally kick the habit:
1. You’ll feel better almost immediately.
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your blood pressure and heart rate will start to drop. After 12 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood will return to normal. And within two weeks, your circulation will improve and your lung function will begin to increase.
2. You’ll look better, too.
Quitting smoking can improve your skin tone and texture, making you look younger and healthier. It can also help you avoid wrinkles and other signs of aging caused by smoking.
3. You’ll have more money in your pocket.
Cigarettes are expensive. So you will save more money.
How to quit smoking
There are many reasons to quit smoking, and the benefits of quitting are well-known. However, quitting smoking is not easy, and it often requires multiple attempts before success is achieved. If you’re ready to quit smoking, the following tips may help you succeed:
1. Make a plan. Decide on a quit date and stick to it. Choose a method of quitting that you’re comfortable with, such as gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day or switching to a less harmful alternative like e-cigarettes.
2. Get support. Talk to your doctor or a counselor about your decision to quit smoking and ask for advice on how to best achieve success. You may also want to join a support group or seek out other people who are trying to quit smoking.
3. Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms. When you first stop smoking, you may experience symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. These symptoms are normal and will usually subside after a week or two.
4. Avoid triggers. Identify the things that make you want to smoke and avoid them if possible. If you can’t avoid them, try to find other ways to deal with them instead of smoking.
What to expect when you quit smoking
One of the first things you’ll notice is that your sense of smell will improve. This is because the nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes damage your ability to smell. Once you quit, those damaged cells will start to heal and your sense of smell will gradually get better.
You may also notice that you’re coughing more. This is also due to the damage that cigarettes have done to your lungs. When you quit smoking, your lungs begin to heal and the cough is simply your body’s way of getting rid of the mucus and other debris that has built up in them over time.
In the first few weeks after you quit smoking, you may also have trouble sleeping. This is normal and usually goes away after a week or two. If it doesn’t, talk to your doctor about ways to help you sleep better.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to quit smoking, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success. First, choose a date to quit and stick to it. This will help you mentally prepare for the change. Second, get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, so you’re not tempted to smoke. Third, tell your friends and family about your decision to quit, so they can support you. Finally, make sure to keep yourself busy and distracted so you don’t think about smoking. If you follow these tips, quitting smoking will be easier than you think!