How do I quit smoking?
Smoking: A powerful addiction
Only the person who has tried to quit the habit of smoking can feel the difficulties vested in this process. It is tough because nicotine is a very addictive drug. It gives a hit to our brain after it is absorbed in the blood. This can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine for some people. As a matter of fact, quitting smoking is very hard. Generally, people make 2 or 3 attempts or sometimes more than that before finally being able to quit. It causes many diseases and declines the health of smokers.
Giving up smoking has immediate as well as a long-term benefit. It reduces the risks of diseases caused by smoking and improves health. There is a big list of diseases caused by smoking and it has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer.
The side effects of smoking
Smoking raises blood pressure and heart rate. Smoking also decreases the blood flow in the body. The activities of the Brain and the nervous system are stimulated for a short time and then reduced. Smokers also face the problem of dizziness, nausea, and watery eyes. The appetite, taste, and smell also get weakened by smoking. Smokers also face the problem of shortness of breath and persistent coughs. The fitness of the person is reduced because of smoking. The smokers also experience yellow stains on their fingers and istanbul escort teeth.
The other effects
The body’s resistance to the disease decreases because of smoking. It is harder for addictive smokers to recover from the disease. Smoking can also cause impotency in males and the females can become less fertile. The facial wrinkles can appear much earlier in people who smoke regularly. There are chances of infection in the respiratory system such as pneumonia. There are also increased chances of coronary disease and heart attack. Smoking is very dangerous at the time of pregnancy. The other effects are nervousness, tension, agitation, and loss of concentration.
The need to give up:
Smoking accounts for almost 22 % of all male deaths and 11% of female deaths around the world on an average. The ill-effects may pertain up to 10 – 15 years from the time of quitting. So health should be considered as the primary & the important reason why one should choose to give up.
Scientific tests and laboratory analysis has revealed that tobacco smoke contains approximately 4000 harmful chemicals the most lethal of which are listed as, Carbon mono oxide, benzene, lead nicotine, and hydrogen cyanide, which are either present in the tobacco or formed when the tobacco is burned. Rather than just a mere bad habit, it may slowly turn into a complex addiction. Besides, it may also cause a lot of physical deformities within the body. Shortness of breath, lack of concentration, poor energy levels, staining of teeth, premature wrinkles and dull skin is just to name a few. In women, it may increase the risks of reduced fertility along with considerable infant mortality and risky pregnancy. It is also seen that smokers have an increased chance of having a heart attack, stroke, and lung cancer.
Keys to Quit Smoking
Scientific studies have revealed that nicotine is a very addictive drug and usually takes 2 to 3 tries before one successfully quits smoking. One can start initially start off by setting a date to quit. Simple measures like talking to someone, going out for a walk or a little exercise, or getting busy with a task may really help in distracting one from the thought and the frequent urges to smoke.
Anti-smoking medication which may prove fruitful in the process of quitting has been made available in the market to help smokers get rid of the fatal habit. In many advancing nations of the world including the United States, Nicotine gums, patches, inhalers, nasal sprays, and lozenges are the most common forms to name a few. Initially, some side effects may show up after quitting. This may include weight gain usually less than 10 pounds or may fall prey to a bad mood or depression.
In such a case quitting smoking medications and medical attention proves helpful. Special conditions and reasons may also promote the reasons for giving up smoking. For example, a father by quitting can protect his children from the health hazards caused by secondhand smoke.
You have to get ready for it and set a quiet date and change your environment. Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work, and even don’t let people smoke around you. You also have to review your past attempts to quit. You should tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Even ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them. You have to learn new skills and behaviors and try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to somebody, go for a walk, or get busy with a task, read some magazines or books. To take care of yourself you should go for a medical health checkup.
There are a few tests smokers should be done:
- Chest X-ray
- Spirometry
- CT Scan
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test
- Electrocardiogram
- Diabetes Screening Test
- Vitamin D Blood test
Benefits of giving up smoking
There are lots of benefits to giving up smoking. Compared to smokers, your stroke risk is very low. Cancer of the larynx risk is decreased after quitting. Even coronary heart disease risk is cut by half 1 year after quitting and is nearly the same as someone who never smoked 15 years after quitting. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk of death is decreased after you quit. Lung cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, and ulcer risk drop by as much as half 10 years after quitting. When a pregnant woman quits smoking, the risk of low birth weight baby drops to normal.
The best method to avoid getting sick from smoking is to never start. If you do smoke, discontinuing as soon as possible can prevent or reverse health troubles. Also, keep track of your health numbers to catch a health issue well within time.
