The American Cancer Society reports that one in five persons in the United States smokes. If you are considering quitting smoking, you should look at the positive effects it will have on your life. Need something to convince you? There are health benefits, economic advantages and social benefits. The earlier you quit, the earlier you can start taking advantage of the effects of giving up smoking. Deciding to quit is the first step.
Improved Health
If you stop smoking, you will decrease your chances for lung cancer and chronic lung problems like emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking causes organ damage and other cancers. Your risk will decrease for many preventable health issues. The earlier you stop, the more health benefits quitting will have for you in the future.
More Money in Your Pocket
Let's face it. Smoking is expensive. Calculate how many packs you smoke a day and multiply it by 365 days. Multiply that by how much you pay for a pack. Multiply that by 20 years, or however many years you have been smoking plus how many more years you expect to live as a smoker. That is a lot of money. You can use this money for a down payment on a house, put it toward your kid's college education, or maybe even buy a new car. Quitting will put more money in your pocket.
Social Advantages
You will smell better. Your teeth will be whiter and your smile will be brighter. Your breath will not smell like smoke and cigarettes. People might feel more comfortable being next to you because you don't smell and you can hang out in public places where smoking usually is not allowed. You will not need to leave a party to smoke, leave a social situation to smoke or leave a conversation to smoke.
A Healthier Baby
Five percent of infant deaths can be prevented if pregnant women did not smoke, according to the American Cancer Society. Your baby will not have a higher risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and will not have a higher risk of being born with a low birth weight, which can cause future health problems. Your baby's health will also not be put at risk from secondhand smoke.
Say Goodbye to an Addiction
Imagine being free from your addiction. You will not have to run outside in the rain during your break at work to have a cigarette anymore. You will not have a car that smells like cigarettes. You will not have to run out in the middle of the night and spend all the cash in your wallet on a pack of smokes. You will have more time on your hands to do things that keep you healthy.
