The Smooth Reaper: the Dangers of Smoking

For years smoking has been glamorized as the cool and mature thing to do. As the years have passed smoking has become increasingly popular among both adults and teens. Inversely, quitting smoking has become more difficult and is even harder for those who started smoking at a young age. The main reason why calling it quits is such a challenge for most smokers is because it is addictive. It has been proven that nicotine, a main ingredient in cigarettes, is an addictive substance. Many smokers come to depend on the positive effects of nicotine, such as boosting their mood, improving short-term memory and concentration and producing a sense of well-being.

Cigarette smoking is one vice that can affect every single part of the body and has been linked to numerous cancers. The longer a person smokes the higher the risk of cancer. Alcohol abuse increases this risk. Tobacco also contains more than 19 known cancer-causing chemicals (most are collectively known as "tar") and more than 4,000 other chemicals.
Reasons to Quit Smoking for your Health:

• Heart and blood vessel problem leading to stroke, heart attacks and high blood pressure
• Cancer (especially in the lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas and cervix)
• Lung problems such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, or asthma
• Problems during pregnancy

Smokeless tobacco is not safe either and has a risk of the following:

• Increased risk of mouth or nasal cancer, gum problems, tooth wear, cavities, worsening high blood pressure and angina

Now that we’ve told you how smoking can kill you, here are reasons to quit to live:

• Your breath, clothes, and hair will smell better
• Your sense of smell will return and food will taste better
• Your fingers and fingernails will slowly appear less yellow
• Your stained teeth will slowly become whiter

Your home, work and social life will also improve immediately:

• Your children will be less likely to start smoking themselves
• It will be easier and cheaper to find an apartment
• You will miss fewer work days, or you may have an easier time getting a job
• The constant search for a place to smoke when you're out will be over
• Friends will be more willing to be in your car or home
• You will have more money available (one-pack-per-day-smokers spend around $1,800 per year on cigarettes—and with prices going up and park tickets, that rate may increase)

Some health benefits begin almost immediately too, but every week, month, and year without tobacco use only improves your health.

• Within 20 minutes of quitting- your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal and the temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.
• Within 8 hours of quitting -your blood carbon monoxide levels drop and your blood oxygen levels increase, both to normal levels.
• Within 24 hours of quitting -your risk of a sudden heart attack decreases.
• Within 48 hours of quitting -nerve endings begin to regenerate and your senses of smell and taste begin to return to normal.
• Within 2 weeks to 3 months of quitting- your circulation improves and walking becomes easier; your lung function increases by up to 30%.
• Within 1 to 9 months of quitting- your overall energy typically increases and symptoms like coughing, nasal congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath improve; you will have fewer illnesses, colds and asthma attacks; you will gradually no longer be short of breath with everyday activities.
• Within 1 year of quitting -your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone still using tobacco.
• Within 5 years of quitting- your lung cancer death rate decreases by nearly 50% compared to one-pack-per-day-smokers; your risk of cancer of the mouth is half that of a tobacco user.
• Within 10 years of quitting -your lung cancer death rate becomes similar to that of someone who never smoked; precancerous cells are replaced with normal cells; your risk of stroke is lowered, possibly to that of a nonsmoker; your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas all go down.

There are a lot of ways to quit smoking and many resources to help you.

Family members, friends and coworkers may be supportive and encouraging. Talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation medications. If you join smoking cessation programs, you have a much better chance of success. Such programs are offered by hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites. See: Stop smoking support programs

Helpful source: “Making the Decision to Quit Smoking”,The New York Times, 12/25/09

By Charise Mohammed