10 Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking
If you are researching the causes of any specific disease, smoking is likely to be in the top 5 causes. If you are looking at lifestyle changes to treat a health condition, quitting smoking will also be one of the top five recommendations. It is a cause for concern that most smokers know that it is harmful and yet do not quit. One must do whatever it takes to quit smoking or convince a loved one who smokes to stop now.
Here are ten health benefits of smoking cessation which can help strengthen your arguments.
1. See immediate improvement in vitals
Studies show that right after you quit, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. Within a few days of quitting, the carbon monoxide levels in the body can return to normal. Within three months, you can feel improvement in your lung function.
2. It detoxifies your lungs
One of the first organs that are impacted by smoking is the lungs. Once you quit, in a matter of 8 to 10 months, you can see that you can breathe better. Smokers’ cough and shortness of breath will slowly disappear.
3. Saves loved ones from passive smoking
Secondary smoke is a significant cause of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke among the smoker’s family members and close associates. You expose your children and other young ones in the family to respiratory and chest diseases, ear infections, pneumonia, asthma, and wheezing. Quitting smoking can protect them from these major diseases.
4. Reduces risk of major lung-related disease
The World Health Organisation has declared that your heart and cardiovascular disease risk reduces by about half once you quit smoking. Within five years, your risk of stroke reduces. Smoking is the biggest cause of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, voice box cancers, throat, nose, and sinuses.
5. Reduces risk of other cancers
The smoker is at high risk of cancers of the pancreas, cervix, bladder esophagus, blood, throat, and mouth. Once you quit, the risk for such cancers starts decreasing.
6. Reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases
Smokers are at a higher risk of coronary heart diseases, aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and stroke. Within 15 years, you share the same risk as any other person for coronary disease.
7. Increases life expectancy
Life expectancy can improve at any age once you quit smoking. Quitting young can add more years as opposed to quitting at an older age. If you quit smoking after being diagnosed with a disease, quitting smoking can help improve symptoms and your quality of life. Chances of complete cure depend on how long you have been smoking and how advanced the disease is.
8. Cures sex-related conditions
Smoking can cause erectile dysfunction and also lead to impotence. Quitting smoking can improve your blood circulation and enhance sexual desire and cure erectile dysfunction.
9. Increases chances of pregnancy
Smoking damages the lining of the womb making pregnancy difficult. Once you quit smoking, getting pregnant naturally or through IVF increases. Quitting smoking also reduces the risk of miscarriages.
10. Improves appearance
Quitting smoking delays aging and reduces early wrinkles. It can directly reduce the staining of teeth.