Those who smoke often feel as though the smoking is what helps them to cope with the daily struggles of life. For many, they believe that cigarettesare what help them to calm down and focus on what they need to get done. However, this is the psychological dependency that smokers have on cigarette, especially the nicotine in it. Those who are looking to quit smoking will find that takes commitment and courage. It is common for those who are getting ready to quit to feel afraid of this new step and a bit of excitement at starting a new chapter of their life. These complicated feelings are completely normal. But if you stick with your goal of quitting, you will see the benefits of quitting smoking and find that this is one thing changes your life.
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Those who quit smoking will find that their quality of life improves drastically because this is going to affect their health and emotional wellbeing. No matter at what age you decide to quit, you are going to see the benefits of quitting smoking.
1. Benefits of Quitting Smoking over Time
Time after Quitting |
Benefits |
20 minutes |
There is a noticeable decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. |
12 hours |
The levels of carbon monoxide in the blood drop back down to normal range. |
2 weeks-3 months |
Lung function starts to increase, while circulation in the body increases. |
3 months-9 months |
Shortness of breath and coughing begins to decline; the small hairs start to function more properly to deal with mucus, clean lungs and lower infection risk. |
1 year |
Reduction of coronary heart disease by half when compared to someone who still smokes. |
5 years |
Bladder, esophagus, throat and mouth cancer risks decline by half compared to a smoker; the chances of cervical cancer are also decreased. |
10 years |
Risk of lung cancer decreases by half; larynx and pancreas cancer risk declines. |
15 years |
Risk of coronary heart disease is comparable to someone who does not smoke. |
2. Reduce Risks of Disease
When looking at the causes of death within the United States, smoking is one of the leading preventable causes that are seen. On average, there are 438,000 premature deaths within a given year due to direct and secondhand smoking. Smoking can cause health problems that are hard to reverse because every organ in the body is affected. For example, those who smoke have an increased chance of stroke, lung disease, heart disease, cataracts, osteoporosis and lung conditions like bronchitis and emphysema.
It is never too late to stop smoking as this can add years onto your life at any age. Those who are 60 years old and quit can add 3 years onto their lives, while men who quit by the age of 30, can add 10 more years to their life. Those who do quit give themselves chances to enjoy a life that is happier and healthier.
3. Save Time and Money
- Smoking is an expensive addiction that can add up over time. Those who smoke one pack per day can save around $15,000 over the next 10 years by quit smoking. This is a lot of money that you can save by simply quitting this life-threatening habit.
- In addition to the actual cost of the cigarettes, you can save money in various other ways by quitting smoke. For example, non-smokers pay less money on health and life insurance policies, as they are not considered as high risk group.
- What's more, you can save yourself the time and hassle of running to the store for more cigarettes, which does cost you as it consumes gasoline and puts more wear and tear on vehicles.
4. Leads to Better Sex
Those who quit smoking will find that their sex life will approve. Quitting smoking helps to get the blood circulation back to normal. This can make men get an erection faster and womenbecome more sensitiveand arouse easily, which can result in more intense orgasms. In addition, studies have shown that non-smokers tend to have more sex than smokers since they have better circulation and they do not smell like an ash tray.
5. Improve Fertility
Non-smokers do not have as hard of a time to get pregnant, when compared to smokers. Men who do not smoke tend to have more potent sperm, while women tend to have a stronger uterus lining. Those women who are using IVF also find that through non-smoking, this process is usually more successful.
For women who are pregnant, smoking is detrimental to the unborn baby. Those who do smoke while pregnant increase the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the chances of having a child that has a low birth weight.
6. Become More Energetic
Those who stop smoking will see better blood circulation within 2 to 12 weeks. After this happens, everything becomes easier: it takes less effort to complete physical activities; you may even have more energy to complete those things that perhaps you couldn’t do in the past. In addition, your immune system becomes better which makes it easier to have energy to complete tasks.
7. Relieve Stress
For many people, just finding a place to smoke can be stressful. This is true for those who are looking for a public area to smoke as well as those who are trying to hide smoking. When this is the case, the stress is all due to the fact that they smoke. If they were to quit, they will no longer have these stress factors.
8. Benefit Family and Friends
Most smokers smoke whenever they want, thus their friends and family are often dealing with second hand smoke and have to breathe in those harmful chemicals released from cigarettes. In addition to this, if you are trying to start a family, you need to quit as this can impair your ability to get pregnant.
9. Look Better
Those who smoke often have yellow fingernails and teeth which can be eye sores. In addition, smokers are more likely to age prematurely which results in developing lines and wrinkles within the skin earlier than non-smokers. Poor circulation is also responsible for smokers losing their hair or having their hair thin out more. For those who quit smoking, these effects are stopped gradually.
The benefits of quitting smoking are much more than this. Let's watch the following video to hear two stories about how quitting smoke improved their life: