The advantages of quitting smoking - here is a list of reasons to consider
Are you thinking about quitting? Maybe you want to cut back on smoking? Then you have come to the right place.
Here we have listed a number of positive things about quitting that can boost your motivation. You will also find some useful tips to help you out along the way.
And don’t forget to celebrate every accomplishment - no matter how small. Every cigarette you don’t smoke is a victory! The body can heal itself much faster than you might think. Once you have decided to quit smoking, you can look forward to a range of health benefits. Here are just a few:
11 reasons you should stop smoking
1. Improved sense of taste and smell
Tobacco use decreases your sense of taste and smell. After only a few days without a cigarette, you will feel your taste buds come back to life. Food and drinks start to taste better! You may even discover that the side dish you once found a bit bland and boring becomes a new favourite. 🥗
Tips: Once you have made it through 48 hours smoke-free, treat yourself to a really good meal. Maybe try out a new restaurant that you have been curious about for a while or revisit a flavour-rich food with your renewed sense of taste. Prepare to be amazed!
2. Better sex life
When you stop smoking, your sex drive improves. This applies to both men and women, especially if you are a little older. Smoking has been shown to have a negative impact on sex drive and sexual pleasure. If you are considering having children, sex and smoking are a bad combination. Smoking has a negative effect on both male and female reproductive organs, which can make it more difficult to get pregnant and can also affect your baby's health later on.
Tip: Tune in to your body and see if smoking changes the way you feel.
3. Better skin
Tobacco contains a variety of unhealthy substances that contaminate your skin and give it a dull, slightly greyish tone. Smoking can limit the availability of collagen in your skin. This leads to a loss of skin elasticity. Once you stop smoking, you will notice your skin become smoother with a more natural glow. 💎
Tip: Help your skin recover; cleanse, exfoliate and massage. Use a face mask, creams and serums. Looking in the mirror and seeing the results for yourself can be a great motivator to help you continue on your journey to become smoke-free.
4. Fresher mouth feel
Smoking wreaks havoc on your mouth, teeth and gums.
Once you stop smoking, your breath will be fresher and it will be easier to fix discoloured teeth. When you are a smoker, gum inflammation can be hidden. Blood circulation is weakened when you smoke, which can make your gums look healthier than they actually are. Once you stop smoking, your gums can become sensitive and you may even notice some bleeding when you brush your teeth - these are signs that your dental health was poor – but now can be monitored and improved more easily.
Tip:Brush your teeth thoroughly. Use dental floss. Use toothpaste that gently removes stains without whitening your teeth. Make an appointment with the dentist and tell them you’re quitting smoking.. A brand new smile can also help keep your motivation up. 😁
5. Better blood circulation
Your blood circulation improves! You can sometimes notice your circulation improve as early as 2 weeks after you stop smoking. When the blood is able to transport oxygen through the body more efficiently, you can recover faster from exercise.
Tip: Plan to become more active when you are ready to quit smoking - give your body a new routine. 🚴♀️ It is important to establish new, healthier habits that don’t include smoking. Start small and increase over time. Exercise helps improve your circulation, but above all, it boosts your mental and physical strength.
6. Lower blood pressure
Smoking can increase your blood pressure and pulse. When you stop smoking, your blood pressure recovers to a more normal level. Blood pressure is a bit tricky and not everyone responds the same way. But lower blood pressure reduces the risk of diseases such as stroke and heart attack.
Tip: There are several easy ways to naturally lower your blood pressure. Long, deep breaths relieve stress in the body. Try yoga or meditation, or set aside time for relaxing activities like reading a good book. 📖
7. Snore less
Smoking causes inflammation of the mucous membranes which contributes to snoring. This can affect the quality of sleep for you and those around you. Poor sleep quality presents both mental and physical risks.
Tips: If your snoring affects someone close to you, check in with them to see if there has been any change in your snoring since you stopped smoking. If your sleep improves since you no longer snore, this can be a great motivator to keep going and quit for good.
8. Strengthened immune system
When you stop smoking, you also strengthen your immune system. This makes it easier for your body to fight off colds and other illnesses.
Tips: Further strengthen your immune system by eating foods rich in vitamin C, foods rich in vitamin E such as nuts and whole grains, zinc-rich foods such as turkey and crab, and selenium-rich foods such as chicken, eggs and tuna fish. 🥗
9. Increased lung capacity
You can feel your lung capacity improve after just a couple of smoke-free weeks. This means that you will have an easier time moving around and engaging in day-to-day activities that you may have been avoiding.
Tip: Take deep relaxing breaths. As your lungs start to recover, you will notice the difference. Once you feel the improvements in your body, there will no longer be obstacles to increasing your physical activity. Spend time doing new things with family.
10. Less coughing
You may notice more coughing when you first stop smoking. This type of cough is actually a good sign - it means your lungs are recovering. There’s no need to worry. It won’t last too long. 😊
Tip:Warm water can help relieve throat irritation caused by the cough, and drinking water can help hydrate the lungs, making it easier to cough.
11. Reduced cancer risk
Your risk of developing cancer is reduced when you stop smoking. It is never too late to reduce your risk. A cigarette produces 7,000 different substances, many with tremendously harmful effects in the body. Second-hand smoke also increases the risk of cancer for those around you.
Tip: Quitting smoking is no easy task, but the benefits are tremendous. By choosing to stop smoking, you protect the people around you. Only a quarter of the smoke from a cigarette ends up in your body. The rest spreads to the surrounding area turning those nearby into passive smokers. Seek the support of friends and family - everyone benefits when the smoke disappears. 👨👩👧👦
How many smokers want to stop?
According to the Public Health Agency of Sweden, about 7% of Swedes between the ages of 16 to 84 are daily smokers. The proportion of smokers has been decreasing in recent years. How many smokers have tried to stop or would like to stop is difficult to determine, but some estimates are as high as 69%. You are definitely not alone if you want to quit.
Are there any benefits to continuing smoking?
While smoking may seem like a positive element of your routine, simply put, the answer is - no. Cigarette smoke contains a host of toxic substances that seriously damage your health and there other, less harmful ways to deal with the nicotine cravings.
Why should I stop smoking? | why should I continue smoking?
Refraining from smoking is simply one of the best things you can do for your health. • Blood pressure and pulse return to normal levels • Heart attack risk drops • Cancer risk drops • Blood clot / stroke risk drops • Better sex life • Better oral health • Protect those around you • Improved complexion • Improves sense of taste and smell
Why do people start smoking? | why would you start smoking?
There are many answers to this question. People often start smoking at a very young age - they want to feel like an adult. It could be about searching for one’s identity? The reason people continue to smoke, even though they know it is dangerous, is due to the fact that cigarettes are highly addictive – mentally and physically.
Why is smoking so dangerous?
You ingest a host of toxic substances that can seriously damage your health. You also risk harming those around you through second-hand smoke. Smoking causes:
