Most people are familiar with the adage 'smoking kills' or cigarette smoking is injurious to health'. But, in spite of being well versed with the consequences of smoking, we find it hard to quit.

If you plan to take up smoking, either because of a stressful lifestyle or peer pressure, think again. Syeda Kiran Zahra Hussain, Certified Holistic Nutrition Therapist, SNHS , UK. Certified Health Coach, IIN, US, gives us reasons to ditch the butt and embark on a healthy lifestyle.

Reasons to Quit Smoking

Syeda says, 'tobacco is one of the worst killers because it debilitates you slowly. It is also responsible for almost 5 ½ million deaths worldwide and ranks at number six. Apart from killing the smoker him/herself, it also affects other people by polluting the environment and making it virtually non-breathable for others.'

Other Tobacco Facts and Smoking Health Risks

Tobacco is not only damaging for your health, it also affects your pocket. Apart from the cost of purchasing cigarettes, there are other smoking risk like health risks, doctors expenses and medications.

Most people are familiar with the adage 'smoking kills' or cigarette smoking is injurious to health'. But, in spite of being well versed with the consequences of smoking, we find it hard to quit. If you plan to take up smoking, either because of a stressful lifestyle or peer pressure, think again. Syeda Kiran Zahra Hussain, Certified Holistic Nutrition Therapist, SNHS , UK. Certified Health Coach, IIN, US, gives us reasons to ditch the butt and embark on a healthy lifestyle.

Tobacco use is responsible for:

• Developing lung cancer is 10 times greater for smokers than non-smokers
• Causes nearly 4,000 throat cancer deaths
• At least 85% of emphysema deaths
• In addition, causes 80% of oesophageal cancer deaths

Reasons to Quit Smoking

Smoking also:

• Raises the risk of cancer of the larynx by 25 to 30 times
• Is responsible for 40% of bladder and kidney cancers
• Doubles the risk of breast and stomach cancers
• Multiplies the risk of cervical cancer by 4 times
• Moreover, causes cancers of the respiratory system

Reasons to Quit Smoking

• In addition, smokersare more likely to have:
• Four times the risk of heart disease
• And twice the risk of having a stroke

Consequences for second-hand smokers

Second-hand smoking increases the chances of heart disease by 50 to 60%. Therefore, smoking not only hurts the smoker but also hurts their family and friends.

Harmful for kids

• As for children, passive smoke increases their risk by 6 times for:
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Cough

Furthermore, children born to smokers have greater chances of unhealthy low birth weight as well as increased ear infections.

Benefits of Quitting Smoke

After twenty minutes of quitting smoking, the following health benefits starts to show. Here are ways in which your body starts to responds.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 1: 20 minutes

Your pulse and blood pressure rate return to normal.

Most people are familiar with the adage 'smoking kills' or cigarette smoking is injurious to health'. But, in spite of being well versed with the consequences of smoking, we find it hard to quit. If you plan to take up smoking, either because of a stressful lifestyle or peer pressure, think again. Syeda Kiran Zahra Hussain, Certified Holistic Nutrition Therapist, SNHS , UK. Certified Health Coach, IIN, US, gives us reasons to ditch the butt and embark on a healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 2: 8 to 12 hours

The toxic nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in your bloodstream drop by half and oxygen levels increase.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 4: 72 hours

After 72 hours, your body is free from nicotine and the withdrawal symptoms also decreases. The withdrawal from nicotine gives you relaxed lungs and makes breathing much easier from the bronchial tubes. Breath, teeth and fingers feel better and smell cleaner.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 5: 2 to 12 weeks

Once you reach the 2nd week, your lung functions and blood circulation continually improves. Cravings, depression, insomnia, poor concentration and anxiety significantly subside or end.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 3: 24 to 48 hours

The chances of getting a heart attack lower as nicotine leaves your body. Your damaged nerves start to repair. Also, your sense of smell and taste begins to return to normal.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 6: 3 to 9 months

Your energy levels increase and susceptibility to infections, coughs, congestion and shortness of breath decreases.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 7: 1 year

Your chances of heart disease is lowered by half, compared to a smoker.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 8: 5 years

Your risk of getting a stroke is higher than that of a non-smoker.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 9: 10 years

Your risk of developing cancer of the pancreas, kidney, bladder, oesophagus, throat and mouth will decrease and your risk for lung cancer will reduce to almost half, compared to a smoker.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking # 10: 15 years

Congratulations! Your lung cancer, stroke , heart disease and death chances are now similar to a person who has never smoked.