Why you should stop smoking

If you’re a smoker you already know that smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, but knowledge of that awful disease hasn’t been enough to make you give up thus far. Perhaps you feel that lung cancer is something that happens to other people? Well it does, but it can happen to you too along with numerous other horrible illnesses and side effects. Your health is the most valuable possession you will ever have, so why risk it? Smoking is an addiction, but it is also a choice. This article looks at many of the reasons why you should stop smoking.

Smoking is ridiculously expensive

No doubt you already know how much you could save if you gave up smoking. Enough for a holiday every year. Enough to buy your kids or partner a lovely treat. Instead you choose to plough your money into a giant corporation. They don’t need your money. They just need people to keep smoking. You are in their thrall, your life is being controlled by them and your addiction. You need to reassert control over yourself and make your own choices.

Smoking makes you look awful

It can add ten years to how you look because it dries out your skin and your hair. Your eyes go a little yellow and you get smoking lines around your mouth. It’s not attractive. Your breath smells, your teeth are yellower than a non-smoker’s teeth and your fingers can be stained. Mints help. A little. Don’t be fooled, everyone knows you’re a smoker.

Smoking affects your mental capacity

There have been studies that demonstrate rapid mental decline in older smokers. In fact mental decline is five times faster in smokers than in non-smokers. There is also evidence for arterial damage and increased risk of stroke.

You are more likely to go blind

Research has shown that smoking can raise the risk of ‘age-related macular degeneration’, meaning that people who smoke are at risk of losing their central vision which affects how we use our eyes for sewing, reading, driving etc. In fact smokers are four times more likely to go blind. Those that stop smoking can lower their risk of developing sight problems.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Mothers who smoke need to be aware that maternal smoking doubles the risk of SIDS according to European research. Maternal smoking doubles the SIDS risk overall. Interestingly, one study linked the death of half of all SIDS babies to infants sleeping on their stomachs or sides, with just 16% of SIDS deaths linked to bed sharing. The thing is, bed sharing has been found to be most risky when the mother smokes. Recommendations are that babies should not share a bedroom with parents who smoke.

Increased Risk of Impotence

A Chinese study has found that men who smoke more than a pack a day are 60% more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, in comparison to men who have never smoked at all.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you are genetically susceptible to certain illnesses, smoking is more likely to increase your risk. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of these, as is Lupus. Researchers in Sweden have discovered that smokers can be nearly 16 times more likely to develop the disease than non-smokers.

You’re more likely to snore

A study of more than 15,000 men and women found what we have all long suspected: smoking makes you snore. In fact, some 24% of smokers, 20% of ex-smokers, and almost 14% of people who had never smoked, snore, and non-smokers are more likely to snore if they are exposed to second-hand smoke.

Breast Cancer

Research has indicated that smoking may be a factor in the development of breast cancer and indeed, the prevalence of breast cancer among smokers is 30% higher than among women who have never smoked.

Final thoughts

Smoking is linked to an increasing number of cancers including colon cancer, and has also been found to be a factor in thyroid disease and heart disease. It is likely to increase the risk of depression in young people according to some research. Given everything we know about the dangers of smoking and the fact that it is no longer considered cool or attractive, there are far too many reasons why you should stop smoking, so consider doing so today.