Why quit smoking: the benefits to quitting smoking
Here’s why you should quit smoking: chronic cough, risk of cardiopulmonary diseases, financial cost, the reasons to quit smoking are as numerous as they are personal. In this article, discover the various benefits to quitting smoking and why it can be advantageous for you, no matter where you are in your life.
The benefits of quitting smoking in the short, medium, and long term
In the very short term
Short-term effects
Chemically, the levels of nicotine and carbon monoxide in the blood are reduced by half after 8 hours, improving the efficiency of oxygen transport to the cells. It takes 24 hours to completely eliminate carbon monoxide from the body and 48 hours for all traces of nicotine to disappear.
After 24 hours, the lungs begin their “cleaning” process, expelling smoke residues that obstruct them. After 48 hours, nerve endings start to regenerate. Gradually, taste and smell return, stomach acidity decreases, and the pleasure of eating increases. After 72 hours, breathing becomes easier, lung efficiency improves, and a surge of energy takes over.
Medium-term effects
In the first trimester after quitting smoking, blood circulation and lung function gradually improve. Physical activities become easier to perform. As the first year without smoking progresses, coughing, rhinitis, and breathing difficulties decrease. With the disappearance of these symptoms, the body becomes less susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. In some individuals, the voice becomes clearer.
Long-term benefits
From the first year without cigarettes, the risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced by 50%. Among the many benefits to quitting smoking, it will take between 5 and 15 years, depending on the individual, to achieve a stroke risk comparable to that of a non-smoker. For the lungs, the mortality rate for lung cancer is halved after 5 years and reaches the level of a non-smoker after 10 years without tobacco. The same applies to cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
The health benefits of quitting smoking
For skin and hair
Some health benefits of quitting smoking are almost immediate. Within just a few days, better oxygenated skin gradually regains its radiance, dullness fades, and blemishes disappear. Over time, puffiness and dark circles under the eyes tend to diminish, along with fine lines and wrinkles. By reducing the production of free radicals responsible for oxidative stress, quitting smoking helps slow down premature skin aging and enhances the skin’s ability to heal. As a result, better-nourished hair becomes stronger and healthier.
For your teeth
Once they are no longer exposed to the various chemicals in smoke, teeth yellowed by cigarettes regain a better appearance. Gums become healthier, reducing the risk of cavities and gingivitis.
For the lungs
The lungs benefit almost immediately from quitting smoking. Once they are no longer exposed to the many toxic substances in cigarettes, they can begin detoxifying. After a month, the bronchial cilia that protect them regenerate, allowing the lungs to clean themselves efficiently while at rest. Within a few months, there are no signs of tobacco intoxication. However, it will take Nature several years to eliminate all precancerous cells.
For the cardiovascular system
Tobacco significantly increases the formation of thrombi (blood clots) within veins and arteries. Smoking is a major risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, phlebitis, and stroke. At the same time, tobacco alters the walls of blood vessels and contributes to the development of atherosclerotic plaques, which lead to high blood pressure. Quitting smoking allows you to achieve the same level of cardiovascular disease risk as a non-smoker.
Sex, fertility, and pregnancy
By quitting smoking, men regain optimal erectile function and produce more sperm. Similarly, for women, a healthier reproductive system increases the chances of successful implantation of a fetus. For pregnant women, quitting smoking early in pregnancy reduces the risk of miscarriage and decreases the likelihood of giving birth to a low-birth-weight baby.
Quit smoking to feel better about yourself
Successfully quitting smoking brings a great sense of pride and freedom, but it also enhances psychological well-being. Among the benefits to quitting smoking, you’ll notice that as your life no longer revolves around cigarettes, your brain can focus more on essential tasks. At the same time, stress and anxiety often linked to tobacco use decrease, and your sleep improves.
Why quit smoking? For the well-being of those around you
Did you know that second-hand smoke can cause serious health problems for the people around you, particularly young children? By quitting smoking, you reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, safeguarding their health and improving their quality of life. The benefits to quitting smoking extend beyond your own well-being. You create a healthier environment for your family and loved ones, decreasing the risks of respiratory issues, asthma, and other smoke-related conditions for those who share your space. Protecting your health also means protecting theirs, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for everyone.
Savings from quitting smoking
Today, the cost of tobacco averages around $15 CAD per pack of 20 cigarettes in Canada.
This means that someone who smokes “only” 10 cigarettes a day spends about $7.50 CAD daily on tobacco, which adds up to approximately $225 CAD per month. By the end of the year, that’s $2,700 CAD, enough to afford a nice vacation, right? Quitting smoking also means significant savings.
It’s no longer difficult to quit smoking with laserOstop
As you’ll see, it’s never too late to quit smoking. Have you already tried to quit without success using nicotine substitutes or alternative medicine?
With the laserOstop method, a proven laser therapy technique to assist in quitting smoking in just one session, you can succeed!
Painless and free of side effects, it has already helped thousands of smokers enjoy the many benefits of quitting smoking.
