This isn’t breaking news, we all know smoking is bad for you. The Great American Smokeout is coming up next month and if you were thinking of making 2020 the year you quit for good, we hope this article helps you get there!
Smoking Is Bad For You
The chemicals, toxins, and tar contained in cigarettes have carcinogens and increase your carbon dioxide levels. This means less oxygen is carried to your cells. Without enough oxygenated blood flowing through your veins, your gums don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Nicotine is an addictive drug and a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Chewing/ snuffing is not a safe alternative because the nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the soft tissue in your mouth, causing another host of problems for your body.
Withdrawal symptoms include appetite increase, nicotine cravings, cough, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, anxiety, depression, and irritability.
Smoking Affects Your Looks
Not only does smoking yellow your skin, stain your teeth, give you bad breath, and wrinkles it also weakens your body’s immune system. This can lead to gum disease.
All smoking can cause the death of gum tissue, which in turn causes gum recession. Severely receding gums leads to tooth sensitivity, increasing your risk of cavities and can lead to the loss of teeth.
Smoking Stinks
Again bad breath, smoke-scented hair, clothing, and vehicles aren’t worth it!
Smoking is Bad For Those Around You
Smoking increases the risks for lung cancer, stroke, coronary artery disease in you and the nonsmokers around you.
Second-hand smoke causes 40,000 deaths in the US every year.
Even if you are being careful and not smoking around family and friends, the dangerous residue of third-hand smoke remains on clothing, windows, draperies, walls, and other interiors elements.
Cost of Smoking
It is expensive! What could you do with an extra $2500+ a year in your pocket?
Benefits of Quitting
- Live longer
- Your heart rate and blood pressure drop within minutes.
- The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal within a few hours.
- Your circulation improves and your lung function increases within a few weeks.
Within a year your coughing and shortness of breath decrease. Your cilia start to regain normal function in your lungs, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. - Lower your rate of lung disease and heart disease.
Are Vaping or E-Cigarettes Helpful When Quitting Smoking?
No. E-cigarettes are not approved as quit aids by the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force or the FDA.
- Nicotine is the primary agent in both regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. and there have been no long-term studies on their effects.
- There are no nicotine concentration restrictions in the United States.
- Aerosol from an e-cigarette contains tiny chemical particles from both the liquid solution and the device – like metals from the heating coil. Evidence suggests that the chemical particles lead to cardiovascular injury, affecting your heart rate, blood pressure, and the health of your epithelial cells (cells that line your blood vessels).
There are other FDA-approved quit smoking aids or if you need more help the Smokers Helpline was created for this reason: 1-800-NO-BUTTS.
Or if you need help quitting e-cigarettes you can access that program by texting “DITCHJUUL” to 88709. Parents looking to help young people quit should text “QUIT” to (202) 899-7550.
If you would like to learn more about the risks of e-cigarettes The Truth Initiative has a wealth of information, resources, and fact sheets at https://truthinitiative.org/
Below is a video that goes into more detail about why you should quit smoking today.
