Top 10 Reasons Why Smoking Stinks

Top 10 Reasons Why Smoking Stinks
It's Time to Kick the Habit!
By Jennifer Gruenemay, LifeScript Staff Writer
Saturday, January 5, 2008  
 
Smoking used to be so in vogue that tobacco companies branded their products with hip characters like "Joe Cool" Camel and the Marlboro Man, who rides off into a cloud of cigarette smoke at sunset. But smoking isn't cool anymore. Both cigarette manufacturers and smokers have had to answer to the mounting evidence that proves smoking kills. But just in case death isn't enough to scare you into dumping this addiction, here are the top 10 reasons you should quit smoking - today. Plus: Are you ready to quit? Take our quiz...

If smoking wasn't bad for you, there wouldn't be so much controversy

surrounding it. There wouldn't be the Truth® campaign or 10-step

programs that help you quit smoking, and there certainly wouldn't be a

"how to quit smoking" section on the Philip Morris tobacco company's web site. So if you've ever wondered why your doctor jumps down your throat about not smoking, there's good reason. In fact, there are 10 good reasons:
 
10 Reasons to Kick the Habit

1. You Stink!
You don't just smell like cigarettes while you're smoking, you reek of

them all day long. The scent of stale cigarettes saturates your hair and

clothes and follows you wherever you go, including your vehicle, your

work and your home. Smoking also gives you terrible breath, and there's

no mint in the world that can get rid of the smell of a pack-a-day

habit.

2. You Have 10 Times More Wrinkles
You can always pick a regular smoker out of a crowd, not just by the

stench but by his or her skin quality as well. Smokers have 10 times

more wrinkles than non-smokers. They also have pale, ashen skin and

yellowing teeth, fingers and fingernails. In fact, a study published by

the British Medical Journal found that smokers with prominent wrinkles

are five times more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary

diseases like emphysema and bronchitis than non-smokers. (See related

article: Restore Young Skin and Fight Signs of Aging)

3. Your Lungs are Full of Phlegm and Tar
Smoking causes sticky, black tar to build up in your lungs, reducing the

exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients between its tissues and the bloodstream. This negatively affects your entire body, but you'll

especially feel it in the lungs. Smokers have more of a difficult time

breathing and are more likely to develop painful chronic coughing due to

the increase in phlegm production. The good news is that if you stop

smoking, your lungs can clear some of the tar and heal significantly.

According to the National Cancer Institute, your body begins the healing

process just 12 hours after your last cigarette. Improved lung function

and circulation can take up to three months.
 
4. Smoking Can Cause Depression
Feeling moody lately? Outlook on life a bit pessimistic? Smoking has

been shown to be a major cause of depression, so don't just blame the

rain if you're feeling blue. A study published in the Archives of

General Psychiatry followed more than 1,000 smokers and non-smokers over the span of five years and found that the smoker group was twice as likely as the non-smoker group to suffer from major depression.
Some smokers actually turn to cigarettes to ease depression, but this

only contributes to the problem. Kick the habit and you'll have the

chance to rediscover a sense of control over your life that may help

lift depression.
 
5. It's Expensive
If the fact that smoking is burning a big hole in your health and

happiness doesn't move you, maybe the fact that it's burning a big hole

in your pocket will. Depending on where you live, a single pack of

cigarettes can cost up to $6, and if you smoke a pack a day, that's

almost $2,200 a year! Just to drive the point home, let's say you start

smoking at age 18 and live to age 68 (since you'll most likely die young

from smoking). Over the course of those 50 years, you will have spent

almost $110,000 on cigarettes alone. And that doesn't include the extra

gum and breath mints, in addition to higher dry-cleaning bills for

getting the smell of stale smoke out of your clothes. (See related

article: How Do I Stop Smoking?)

6. You're Becoming Infertile
It has long been known that male smokers generally have a low sperm

count, but recent studies also show that genetic mutations of sperm from male smokers may also be to blame for infertility. Male smokers are also at a higher risk for erectile dysfunction. Female smokers may also have a harder time getting pregnant.
 
7. You're in for a Difficult Pregnancy
If you do actually become pregnant, you're in for a rough ride. Women

who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to experience ectopic

pregnancies, which occur when the fertilized egg begins to develop in

the slender fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies

can be fatal for both mom and baby. Other risks to the baby's health

include lower birth weight and birth defects. Women who smoke during

pregnancy are also more likely to deliver prematurely or miscarry.
 
8. You're a Bad Influence
Kids imitate their parents. So if you smoke in front of your kids,

they're likely to copy you.
One study presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting showed that 50% of kids whose parents were smokers thought smoking was "cool." Fifty-five percent of kids of smokers planned on smoking in the future. Children brought up by smokers have also been found to be generally less active and develop poor nutrition skills. If you want to positively shape the futures of your children and the other children around you, quit smoking and be a healthy role model.
 
9. Second-Hand Smoke Kills
Not only is smoking a bad influence on those around you, it's killing

them too. You can't contain cigarette smoke, which means that innocent people breathe in your second-hand smoke. Children and adults who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease, as well as other respiratory problems including shortness of breath, coughing and increased production of phlegm. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are particularly at risk for developing asthma.

10. Smokers Die Young
Smoking is the #1 leading cause of preventable disease and death in

America. And it's not a pleasant way to go. Smokers risk developing

cancer of the mouth, throat and lungs, as well as asthma, chronic

bronchitis and emphysema. Smokers are also more prone to high blood

pressure, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, stroke, and heart disease. In

fact, a smoker's risk of dying from sudden cardiac death (heart attack)

is anywhere from 2-4 times greater than non-smokers.

Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

By now you should know that smoking increases your risk for heart

disease, lung cancer, stroke, and more. You know you should quit, but do you have a clear game plan of how you'll overcome your addiction? Find out if you're really ready to quit smoking once and for all.

Take this smoking quiz.

Walking Packs Huge Health Punch,

Study Confirms Content provided by Reuters
Saturday, January 5, 2008

Quit Smoking Hypnosis: How To Hypnotize Yourself

The first thing to do to hypnotize yourself is to find a relaxed and comfortable environment. Lie down, or sit down in a comfortable chair. ...

Bookmark this link now

 Print this page