You probably already know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health. With government health warnings clearly marked on cigarette boxes and cartons and numerous anti-smoking campaigns, it's no surprise that smoking is bad for you. Smoking is reported to be dangerous to the health of smokers and nonsmokers alike by the Surgeon General in the 2004 report "The Health Consequences of Smoking." Quitting smoking is one of the most beneficial things you can do to improve your overall well-being.
Better Health
Nonsmokers have a much lower risk of certain types of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and chronic pulmonary ailments, such as asthma and bronchitis. In general terms, nonsmokers have a higher chance of having a longer life than smokers. If you stop smoking cigarettes, you experience immediate health benefits.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report, your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal just 20 minutes after you quit smoking. Several months later, your breathing improves and coughing and excess mucous production decreases. Even better still, after not smoking for one year, your chances of heart disease are half that of a smoker's. It takes 15 years of not smoking for the chances of developing heart disease to equal that of a nonsmoker. According to the American Heart Association, other health benefits include an improved sense of taste and smell.
Stress
Smokers may think that smoking relieves stress, but the fact is, smoking increases stress on the body. When you smoke, the body undergoes a stress reaction which increases blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood vessels, tightens the muscles and decreases the level of available oxygen to the brain and body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The illusion of decreased stress that smokers experience is due to the temporary relief provided by nicotine. However, between smoking cigarettes, the body undergoes a nicotine withdrawal that increases stress. Smoking is therefore counterproductive in combating stress to the body and mind. Nonsmokers are generally better able to handle stressful situations in a healthy way because they don't need a cigarette to soothe, and subsequently increase, their stress levels.
Finances
You have a higher chance of a better financial situation if you don't smoke. Smoking puts a huge tax on your finances. Depending on how much you smoke, you could be spending hundreds of dollars a month just to buy cigarettes. Additionally, nonsmokers spend less money on health care and insurance. Furthermore, according to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management, employment chances may be reduced for smokers, as some employers may lawfully refuse to hire people who test positive for nicotine.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The Surgeon General's 1990 Report on the Health Benefits of Smoking Cessation
- Cleveland Clinic: Stress, Stress Management and Smoking
- "Wanted: Nonsmokers"; Staffing Management Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management: January 2008
- American Heart Association: Your Non-Smoking Life
