The Many Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Written by: Jordan Crouch
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death
Besides being the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, cigarette smoking is responsible for a host of other ailments, illnesses, and diseases. What many smokers don't realize is that their bodies begin healing themselves the minute the last cigarette is smoked, and this healing process continues on as long as you are a non-smoker.
Here are just some of the ways cigarette smoke is so very detrimental to your health:
- Smoking greatly increases the risk of leukemia, and lung, mouth, esophageal, pancreatic, and bladder cancers.
- Cigarette smoke reduces fertility in both men and women and increases the risk of impotence.
- Smoking contributes to osteoporosis and thinning bones.
- Smoking increases the risk of chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as diabetes, heart disease, depression, and Alzheimer's disease.
- Cigarette smoke adversely affects one's memory and mental capacity.
- Smoking has an effect on the ability to smell and lessens the sense of taste.
- Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of premature births, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Quitting Smoking Has Huge Benefits
One of the major benefits of quitting smoking is the astounding fact that only 12% of smokers should expect to live to the age of 85, as opposed to nearly 70% of non-smokers. Also, if a smoker quits before the age of 35, their risk of premature death is reduced by a whopping 90%. Even a smoker over the age of 65 will greatly benefit and enjoy an improved quality of life and longer lifespan if they quit smoking.
The Short-term Benefits of Quitting Smoking
- After one half hour of quitting, blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature all return to normal.
- Oxygen and carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal, healthy levels.
- Chances of a heart attack decrease after only 24 hours of being smoke-free.
- Overall energy level dramatically increases.
- Circulation improves.
- Instances of sinus congestion, coughing, and shortness of breath decrease.
- Within two days, nerve endings begin to re-grow, improving one's sense of taste and smell.
- Lung capacity increases as the cilia, the tiny hair-like structures within the lungs, begin to re-grow, helping the lungs clean themselves better and handle mucous production as well as reducing infections.
- Within two to four days, deadly chemicals from cigarette smoke are mostly out of the system.
The Long-term Benefits of Quitting Smoking
- Fertility in both men and women improves.
- The risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, SIDS, and premature births are decreased.
- The risk of coronary heart disease decreases.
- Lifespan increases.
- Tar stains on teeth and fingers are eliminated.
- The chances of getting lung, mouth, throat, bladder, and pancreas cancer decreases.
- The chances of actually dying from any number of illnesses and diseases decreases.
- Within 5 to 15 years, a new non-smoker has the same risk of having a stroke as someone who has never smoked at all.
- Overall quality of health is greatly improved along with energy levels.
