It is well-known that smoking is bad for your health. There is a multitude of reasons why it is bad. Unfortunately, the addiction to nicotine is so strong that many people fail in their attempt to quit. This article will talk about some of the bad effects of cigarette smoking and what methods you can use to quit.
There is a strong link between smoking and heart disease. Smoking deprives your bloodstream of oxygen. This can affect the blood flow to your heart. Smoking also causes lung cancer. Imagine the amount of smoke that you inhale into your lungs. The smoke leaves a residue in your lung tissues. Heavy smokers have a heavy accumulation of this residue in their lungs, and it can lead to lung cancer.
Smoking deprives your body of oxygen. Because of its negative effect on your lungs, it can cause shortness of breath when you engage in physical activities. A weak lung cannot sustain you when you exercise.
Smoking can cause your skin to develop wrinkles and an unhealthy color. It causes dehydration of your skin so it appears dry and lifeless.
Not only does smoking affect you negatively, but it can harm the health of people who are around you. Second-hand smoke had bad effects on the breathing of people in your household, especially people who are sensitive to smoke and people who are prone to asthma. Children with their developing lungs are particularly sensitive.
Quitting is not an impossible feat. Thousands of people have successfully kicked the habit using one method or another. Many people find nicotine replacement therapy to be particularly helpful. The replacement therapy involves methods in delivering just enough nicotine to the body to satisfy a craving.
One type of replacement therapy uses nicotine patches. You wear a patch for a period of time. Then you change to another one that has a lower dose of nicotine for a while. You keep changing your patches until you reach the end of your therapy. By then, you would have eliminated your dependency on nicotine.
There are also nicotine gums that you can try. The motion of gum-chewing gives your mouth the stimulus that it needs when you crave cigarettes, and the small amount of nicotine in the gum can satisfy the craving.
You should find ways to reduce the stress that you might get. This is part of your withdrawal symptoms that you will need to deal with. Get involved with a smoking cessation support group. This is a good outlet for you to share your frustration. There are other people in the group who understand exactly what you are going through. You can find support from talking with them. In turn, you can be source of support for others.
With so many negative effects from smoking, you owe it to yourself and your family to quit. Do not procrastinate any longer. Focus on how free you will feel once you kick the habit. It may difficult right now, but it will be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.