To quit or not to quit? The decision seems like a no-brainer, and it is, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. If you have been thinking about quitting smoking, are in the process of quitting, or need an extra push to get you started, here are 3 reasons why smoking is bad:

You hurt yourself

Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer, heart diseases, and even stroke. Smoking has also been found to cause objectionable breath odor and erectile dysfunction.

Smoking is also attributed to respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and others. When you suffer from a respiratory impairment, you find it hard to enjoy many activities. For example, you have a problem engaging in cardio activities, such as running and playing soccer.

There is also the risk of severe damage to blood vessels and nerve cells, leading to fatal and life-altering circulatory and heart diseases such as stroke, blood clots, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and others. When you suffer from poor circulation, your body has problems healing wounds and undertaking other everyday functions.

As much as a cigarette pack is cheap, it gets costly when you add up the costs over several years or decades. When you lose your job, and every coin counts, as an addict, you are forced to compromise on food and other important bills for cigarettes.

Besides the addictive nicotine , cigarettes contain hazardous chemicals, usually added to the cigarettes during manufacturing. These chemicals such as lead, ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and others are carcinogenic, increasing your risk of cancer.

Due to the constant sucking action and exposure to smoke, smoking cigarettes results in premature wrinkles and grayish skin, and as a consequence, you look and feel older than you are.

Even more concerning is that due to the complications brought about by smoking, you die earlier (about 10 years) than a non-smoker.

You hurt others

Besides hurting yourself when you smoke, you also hurt the people around you. The obvious way you do it is by blowing secondhand smoke to your immediate family members, co-workers, and friends. 

As much as this smoke appears harmless, it has been scientifically proven to be as harmful as firsthand smoke.

For example, studies have shown that non-smoking women sharing a house with a smoking partner are 25% more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smoking women living with a non-smoking partner.

There is also the risk of your children taking up the vice. For example, it has been found that a teenager living with smoking parents is twice as likely to pick up smoking than one living with non-smokers.

There is also the financial aspect. If you are the breadwinner for the family and you are caught in a scenario where you have to prioritize between basic needs and cigarettes, you often compromise on the crucial things for cigarettes, which compromises your health and that of the people you live with.

You also put your family and friends in emotional and financial turmoil when you constantly suffer from a myriad of smoking-related conditions. 

You suffer from social stigma.

Unlike before, when smoking was seen as cool, people are now more educated and know the dangers of smoking. This means that when people see you smoking, they view you as irresponsible and not health conscious.

Why should you quit smoking?

There are plenty of perks that come with quitting smoking. The moment you stop smoking, you taste and smell food better. Your breath becomes better, and your never-ending cough goes away.

Quitting smoking also cuts your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.

It has been shown that ex-smokers have fewer days of illness, fewer health complaints, less pneumonia, and less bronchitis.

It’s a no-brainer than quitting smoking saves money. An average smoker can save up to $1000 a year, which they can put in a savings account or reward themselves with a gift. The cost of cigarettes is on an upward trend, so you save even more by quitting the vice.

How do you quit smoking?

One of the major mistakes people make is stopping smoking cold turkey. This is wrong. Remember, if you have been smoking for a long time, your body is dependent on nicotine, so quitting cold turkey will trigger withdrawal symptoms that are too strong that you cannot lead a productive life. To be on the safe side, quit smoking gradually.

After deciding to stop smoking, slowly decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. Whenever you have smoking urges, delay the gratification by engaging in other activities.

For example, if you are in the house and you feel the cravings kicking in, instead of taking a cigarette, grab a glass of water or do any other thing that will distract you from smoking.

If you want to stop smoking but still want to continue getting your nicotine fix, you can do so using NIIN primed nicotine pouches , patches, gum, inhalators, and other methods.

Work with your doctor and find the ideal nicotine amount you should take and how to reduce your intake safely.

The company you keep has a significant impact on your success, so be cautious of the people you keep around you. In your workplace, stay away from smokers as they will draw you back in.

If possible, avoid attending parties where there are plenty of triggers that might hamper your efforts.

Do you find yourself wanting to smoke every time you finish eating a meal? You should always strive to distract yourself after eating. For example, you can take a glass of water, chew a gum, or any other thing that will take your mind away from smoking.

Parting shot

Smoking is harmful in so many ways: you hurt yourself, hurt others, suffer from social stigma, waste money, among many other things, so you should strive to quit it as soon as possible.

As much as you want to do it fast, avoid quitting immediately as you risk suffering from withdrawal. You should make it a process and gradually reduce your nicotine intake to a point where you can go for days or even weeks without cravings.