The American Cancer Society reports that in 2008, one out of five people considered themselves smokers. Even though the dangers of smoking have been established, it is still nearly impossible for some people to quit. If you smoke, you can quit and you will experience immediate and long-term benefits.
Short Term
FamilyDoctor.org suggests that if you quit smoking you will see improvements in breath, clothing and hair smell. Smoking also negatively impacts your immune system and increases your likelihood of getting colds and even pneumonia. According to the American Cancer Society, there are many short-term benefits of quitting such as heart rate and blood pressure dropping within 20 minutes of quitting, carbon monoxide blood levels dropping to normal after 12 hours, circulation improving and lung function increasing two to three weeks after your quit date. During the first nine months smoke free, your coughing and shortness of breath will improve. The tiny cilia hairs in your lungs will regain function, which will allow your body to handle mucus and clean your lungs, reducing the risk of infections.
Long Term
Smoking causes at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths and is linked to an increased risk of cancers, including: larynx, oral cavity, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, bladder and acute myeloid leukemia, as reported by the American Cancer Society. If you quit, your chances of avoiding lung cancer are high. According to the American Cancer Society, every nine out of 10 deaths from lung cancer can be attributed to smoking. It is estimated that lifelong smoking can take close to 15 years off your life.
Healthy Pregnancy
Smoking will negatively impact your baby and children. When pregnant women smoke they increase their risk of miscarriage or delivering a baby with a low birth weight. Low birth weights have been linked to death, learning disorders and physical problems, as reported by the American Cancer Society. Women who are planning to become pregnant can ward off this risk by quitting.
Benefits to Others
People who are exposed to your secondhand smoke can assume the same health risks as you the smoker, such as lung cancer and heart disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Children who live in smoking households have more ear infections, colds, bronchitis and asthma. When you quit, those around you will benefit because their health risks associated with your smoking will subside.
Cost
The monetary cost of supporting a smoking habit is usually far greater than most people assume. Smoking is an expensive habit, according to the American Cancer Society. In order to determine how much money you will save by kicking the habit, calcultate the amount you spend per day on cigarettes and then multiply that by three hundred sixty-five for each day of the year. The amount you spend per year on cigarettes alone might surprise you, but it does not include other costs of smoking. People who smoke experience higher health care and life insurance costs due to the documented health problems related to smoking, reports the American Cancer Society.
