With the next World No Tobacco Day upon us, it is time to increase the awareness of the many dreadful complications that smoking causes among the worldwide population. It is also important to look at the fact that quitting is possible – and while the journey can be a little hard for some people, the benefits make this adventure certainly worth it.
The goal of the World No Tobacco Day is to educate the population about the role that the lungs play in the human being. The campaigns also focus on helping smokers understand how damaging the habit is not only for their own lungs but also for their loved ones who live close to them.
Important Smoking Statistics
An estimated 6% of the European population smokes 20 or more cigarettes on a daily basis. Additionally, an extra 13% of the population smokes less than a packet of cigarettes each day. It has been found that men are much more likely to be a smoker compared to women. The prevalence of smokers ranges between different areas of Europe. For example, it has been found that an estimated 27% of people in Greece are smokers. On the other hand, about 8.7% of people in Sweden are current smokers.
Benefits Of Quitting Smoking
Smoking is exceptionally damaging and can cause a large number of issues in the human body. Luckily, when a person decides to quit smoking, they can expect to experience quite a large number of potential benefits. Let’s take a look at a couple of benefits to expect when it comes to giving up this bad habit:
The brain is rewired when you stop quitting. Nicotine receptors that are located in your brain will return to normal in an approximate one month after you have quit smoking.
Smoking causes oxidative stress that ultimately causes premature aging of the skin. By stopping with this particular habit, the skin becomes clearer, and wrinkles may start to become less prominent. This also helps to protect against a further acceleration in aging.
People often tend to find that smoking causes their teeth to become stained. When they stop smoking, their smile starts to become brighter after just a few weeks. This gives them a boost in self-confidence.
Smoking is one of the main causes of lung cancer, as well as many other diseases that affect the respiratory system. When a person decides to give up on smoking, their risk of lung cancer will become reduced. The risk of developing other types of lung diseases also decreases.
Smoking does not only have a significant impact on the lungs but also adversely affects the cardiovascular system. When a person stops smoking, their blood pressure will not become elevated so often, and they will experience a significant reduction in their risk of certain heart diseases.
Since smoking is known to cause issues with the blood circulatory system and the cardiovascular system, cessation of this unhealthy habit can also reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction in men. Among women, estrogen levels may become better balanced.
Preparing For The Journey To Quit Smoking
Quitting a habit like smoking takes time and can be difficult, which is why starting out with a plan and some preparation can greatly ease the journey and ultimately make things much easier. One of the best ways to prepare for the journey is for a person to consider the reason why they are taking on this goal. For many people, the reason behind wanting to give up cigarettes would be due to health problems. Perhaps they are suffering from heart disease risks, such as hypertension, and want to minimize their risk of complications.
Others might be experiencing the dreadful effects that smoking has on their skin and their teeth. These effects can lead to low self-esteem and make a person self-conscious while they are socializing.
When a person knows their reason for quitting, it will essentially serve as inspiration, allowing them to have something to look to whenever they find that they are in need of some motivation to keep them going on this journey.
How To Stop Smoking
Quitting smoking can be done gradually or cold turkey. Each person should consider the pros and cons of each method and then decide which option would be best for them. While many people do prefer to quit slowly, perhaps reducing the number of cigarettes they smoke each day until they h zero, others find that giving it all up at once is a better solution for them. It is important to note here that quitting cold turkey may lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms, so the person should be prepared to handle these side-effects.
There are a couple of helpful techniques that a person can utilize to help make the journey at least a little easier, such as:
Temporarily using nicotine patches
Avoiding certain triggers like alcohol
Avoid being around others who smoke
When things do seem too tough, and a person does not feel like they are able to quit effectively, then it might be time to search for a specialist in the area. A normal physician with experience in smoking cessation may also be contacted. It would also be a good idea to take a look at our platform, where specialists that can help a person with more effective ways to quit smoking can be easily found.
Understanding The Damaging Effects Of Second-Hand Smoke
A lot of smokers do not understand that they are not the only ones affected by their habit. The second-hand smoke that they blow out still contain harmful substances and toxins that are dangerous to those around them. It has been found that second-hand smoke also causes an increased risk of cancer, as well as other diseases like strokes, mental health problems, blood vessel diseases, and an even higher risk of a heart attack.
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