Smoking is an addictive and harmful habit that can lead to health issues we must have never imagined. Every time smokers light a cigarette, poisonous chemicals enter their bodies and start destroying them. However, once we quit the habit, our bodies clear the toxic chemicals and start the repairing process. The changes can get noticed within days or weeks, from normal breathing to recovering our smell and taste sensations. The body also starts to work energetically. In this article, let's explore the health benefits of quitting smoking.
Why should you quit smoking?
Among various harmful habits a person can have during his/her lifetime, smoking is considered dangerous. Nobody can find one cool benefit from smoking tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, or e-cigarettes. The constituents of tobacco include nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, and acetone. All these constituents are well-known to cause damage to the organs and tissues of the body.
It is common that we hear “smoking causes cancer.” But it not only causes cancer, one can also see long-lasting adverse reactions on the skin, eyes, oral cavity, heart, and lungs. It can also cause fertility and mental health issues affecting a person’s quality of life. Hence, start the process of quitting smoking to heal the body.
Reasons to Quit Smoking
Kicking a habit is not an easy job and cannot be achieved overnight. It takes time, but it is the mind that controls the action. Thus, a smoker can try to quit the habit at any point in time. Some cannot because of aggressive addiction, while others search for reasons as to why they should quit smoking. Let’s look at the reasons and benefits of quitting cigarettes.
1. Respiratory health improves
One of the positive effects of quitting smoking is improved respiratory health. The chance of developing COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a common respiratory disorder causing difficulty breathing due to airway blockage, can get eliminated once we quit smoking. Quitting smoking not only repairs its adverse reactions but also improves the worsening health-related issues. For example, if an asthmatic person stops smoking, the symptoms may decline, and the response to treatment can get better, ensuring better respiratory health. Quitting the habit can also reduce respiratory infections (like pneumonia and bronchitis) and symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and production of sputum.
2. Heart health improves
Giving up smoking ensures our heart functions normally. Once a person quits smoking, blood circulation to the heart improves, thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases and mortality. The good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) levels also increase. Moreover, the risk of stroke reduces.
Individuals suffering from cardiac ailments can notice improvements in their heart health when they stay away from smoking. But do not imagine that these changes can happen in seconds or minutes; it can take around one to two years to notice the improvement of the heart condition. Also, it decreases the chance of a heart attack and death due to cardiac ailments.
3. Risk of cancer decreases
Smoke contains almost 4000 to 5000 chemicals detrimental to humans. According to the American Cancer Society, at least 70 of those chemicals can cause cancer. These chemicals enter the lungs and affect not only the respiratory system but also the other parts of the body. Even our DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is affected.
The burning chemicals released from cigarettes can lead to cancer of the following organs:
- Mouth
- Oesophagus
- Cervical
- Throat
- Larynx
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidney
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Bladder
- Colon
- Rectum
However, once an individual stops smoking, the conditions reverse and repair to almost normal but slowly. Besides, even those with an identified health condition can benefit from kicking the habit.
4. Reproductive health improves
Smoking is not only restricted to men. Even women smoke nowadays. Hence its a responsibility to mention the health benefits of quitting the habit in women as well. A pregnant woman or a female who intends to get pregnant must forget the habit of smoking to improve her health. The most common pregnancy-related complications are underweight babies, preterm birth, and babies with developmental defects. So a mother cannot be negligent on this note. Once the mother quits the habit at the initial phase of pregnancy, the risks of these complications become negligible.
5. Mental health improves
Many people have the misconception that smoking cigarettes relieves them from stress in their daily routines. But little do they know that quitting smoking during stress can make them feel much better than before. Also, many are afraid to face withdrawal symptoms. But once they pass the challenging stage of the de-addiction program, their stress, anxiety, and depression reduce, and they can feel at ease. Achieving the quitting goal itself boosts a person’s confidence level and enhances his/her mood. Hence, do not give the reason for mental health issues for smoking; instead, quit the habit and fight the problem.
6. Financial benefits
Smokers can save a lot of money when they quit the habit. According to the American Lung Association, people in the US can save around $1380-$2,540 annually when they quit smoking. The savings can increase further if the person is a heavy smoker. Usually, smokers do not get excluded from health insurance plans, but their premiums are higher than non-smokers. In addition, a non-smoker gets discounted plans compared to a smoker with higher expenses due to increased risks of developing health-related issues. Hence, quitting the habit can help save money that goes into paying premiums.
Process of Quitting Smoking
Some improvement in health after quitting smoking happens in record time. However, it takes time to heal completely. The following is the timeline of improvements noticed after quitting the habit.
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Timeline
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Changes
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20 minutes
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Heart rate decreases
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24 hours
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The important constituent of tobacco, nicotine, gets reduced in the blood
Oxygen levels increase
Blood pressure drops
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1 to 9 months
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Improvement of respiratory health
Reduced chances of lung infections
Reduced symptoms of shortness of breath and coughing
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1 to 5 years
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The chance of developing coronary heart disease decreases
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5 to 10 years
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Risk of developing stroke drops
The risks of developing oral, laryngeal, & throat cancer decrease
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10 years later
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The chances of lung cancer are reduced by 50% in comparison to a smoker
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15 years later
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The chances of coronary heart disease become equivalent to that of a non-smoker
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20 years later
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The probability of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, and pancreas are same in comparison to a non-smoker
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Effective tips to quit smoking
Quitting a habit requires a big commitment and dedication and must be taken in an easy way during the initial phases of withdrawal. The urge to smoke might keep flashing but sticking to the goal will make things brighter in the future. The following are some tips to quit smoking.
- Consult a physician and take medications, nicotine replacement therapy, and counselling.
- Join a de-addiction program where you can find new friends helping you throughout the process. There are also online programs available nowadays.
- If you feel lonely during de-addiction, advise your friends to join you.
- Identify your trigger factors, approach them differently, or avoid them completely. For example, when you feel like smoking when you head to a particular location, try to avoid visiting the place during the process of quitting smoking.
- Keep your mouth engaged when you crave cigarettes. For example, start chewing gums and sugarless candies, or eat snacks when you get the urge to smoke.
- Get family and friends’ support to help you distract yourself during the process of quitting smoking.
- Try relaxing with a long bath, music, yoga, and meditation.
- Take long walks or go to the gym and do relaxing workouts daily. Plan new exercises every day so that you do not get bored.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I see the benefits of quitting smoking?
The process of quitting smoking might be difficult, but it has fruitful benefits starting from the minute you stop smoking. Generally, within 20 minutes, the pulse rate of the individual reduces. In 24 hours, the harmful constituents of tobacco mixed in the blood get washed away, oxygenation of blood increases, and blood pressure drops down, reducing stress levels. The person's respiratory system heals in a few months, and no symptoms are evident. After a few years, the risks of developing cancer, coronary artery disease, and stroke also get reduced.
Can those who smoke get Health Insurance?
Yes, smokers can get health insurance. But the premiums become higher for smokers in comparison to a non-smoker. The reason behind the difference in amounts is the health risks in smokers, such as cancer, heart, and respiratory problems. Thus, they have a higher insurance premium. And if they quit smoking, they are charged the same as a non-smoker and can get a few discount options as well.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.
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