Developing 10 Reasons to Quit

Any smoker faced with the prospect of quitting smoking knows that to pull it off requires a huge personal effort and much sacrifice. Therefore, it’s a good idea to put down in writing your top 10 reasons for quitting smoking before you actually attempt to quit. Keep this list in a handy place so that you can refer to it as you endure the process of eliminating nicotine from your body and mind.

The following are some great reasons to stop smoking, but you should customize your personal list as you see fit.

1. Smoking is the primary cause of pulmonary (lung) cancer. Eighty-five percent of lung cancer cases in the United States are linked to smoking cigarettes. Lung cancer has one of the highest fatality rates among the most common types of cancer.
2. Smoking puts you at a higher risk for heart disease, strokes, bronchial infection, and emphysema.
3. Smoking costs money. If a pack of cigarettes costs $3, and you smoke one pack a day, multiply that by 365 days, then multiply that by 10 years. Your total: $10,950. That’s enough for a down payment on a house. And that calculation doesn’t account for higher insurance costs and a higher likelihood of medical bills, doctor visits, and prescription drug costs.
4. Smoking affects your physical appearance. Smokers generally suffer from yellowing teeth, skin, and fingernails. Premature wrinkling of the skin and macular degeneration (blindness) are also common side effects, not to mention bad breath and smoky-smelling clothing and furniture.
5. Smoking affects your physical performance. Smokers suffer from increased blood pressure, reduced blood oxygen levels, and restricted lung capacity and blood vessels. This manifests itself in shortness of breath, dizziness, and easy fatigue. Smokers also typically experience mucus buildup and coughing fits.
6. Smoking affects others. Secondhand smoke is dangerous, particularly if you live with children or infants.
7. Smoking shortens your lifespan. Men’s lifespans are shortened by an average of 13.5 years and women’s by an average of 14.2 years because of smoking. The moment you quit smoking, your body starts to heal itself, and within 15 years after your last cigarette, your risk factors for heart disease return to that of a non-smoker’s, and your lung cancer risk is half that of a smoker’s.
8. Free yourself from cigarette smoking addiction. Smoking is addictive, just like any other drug. Quitting smoking frees you from constantly having to worry about when you are going to get your next cigarette, or when you will be able to buy your next pack.
9. Relax and enjoy life. Contrary to the belief that smoking calms you down, nicotine actually stimulates adrenaline release in your body and, therefore, heightens anxiety. Quitting smoking can help you relax, especially if you are not worried about having another cigarette. You’ll also have the physical and monetary resources to participate in activities previously out of reach.
10. Your reason for quitting smoking here. Every person is different, and your decision to quit smoking is a personal one. Besides what all the experts tell you about your health, costs, etc., you are not going to quit unless you have strong personal reasons for doing so.

A New Way to Stop Smoking Without Cravings