Why is Smoking Bad? How can you I quit Smoking?

It’s important to understand why smoking is unhealthy and it is important to have correct information on how to quit the habit. Extensive research and medical records gathered over several decades shows a direct link between tobacco use and such illnesses as cancer, lung disease and serious heart disease. Thousands die every year from disease linked to smoking.

Records in some countries show that smoking is responsible for almost every case of lung cancer. Many more people suffer and die from cancer in the kidneys, bladder, mouth etc. because of habitual smoking. Chemicals in tobacco and substances added to it are at the heart of the problem. Some are directly linked to cancer while others cause serious health problems in other ways.

Three key elements in tobacco are tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Tar collects in the lungs of regular cigarette smokers. To get an idea of what tar can do, think of this as a sticky substance that clings to lung tissue. This makes breathing difficult, of course, but the chemicals in tar are toxic enough to cause serious tissue damage as well.

Nicotine is not considered a cancer-causing element, but it acts like an addictive drug, causing people to want more cigarettes for the nicotine they supply. People don’t often think of carbon monoxide when they consider the dangers of cigarette smoking. However, this is a poisonous gas that may cause illness and death. It is the same gas that comes from the exhaust of an automobile. Research also shows that cigarette tobacco may contain ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and other cancer-causing chemicals.

It is possible to quit smoking, even with the addictive effects of nicotine and the long-term mental habit that some people have developed. Some people are able to quit “cold turkey,” which means they simply toss out their last cigarette pack and don’t smoke again. This takes a lot of will power and can be accompanied by some uncomfortable side effects. In most cases, the body will stop physically craving tobacco in about a week. But many people find themselves thinking about smoking and wanting to smoke for much longer. This psychological craving can last for several weeks.

It isn’t necessary to quit without assistance. There are support programs for those who want to stop smoking. Several companies now offer products that help smokers quit by replacing the cravings for nicotine. Some of these products are available “over the counter” at the pharmacy while others can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription.

Those who are serious about quitting often find that writing down goals for stopping help tremendously. List specific benefits such as saving money, feeling better etc. It also helps to talk with others and interact with others for support while trying to quit. The simple act of setting a date and letting others know about it can put some mild pressure on you, but it may be enough to keep you on track. Finally, avoid situations in which you normally would smoke.