Important Points To Keep In Mind When You Plan To Quit Smoking

Listed here are a few of the key points to remember if you're planning to quit smoking. It will prove to be helpful.

By Suryasis Paul

Friday, May 12, 2017, 15:08

Smoking kills! Indeed it does. There is no need to emphasize on how adversely smoking can affect your health.

It decreases your lung capacity by a considerable amount, it decreases the oxygen capacity of the blood and is highly carcinogenic. If you have planned to quit smoking, you have definitely taken a step in the right direction.

But, let me remind you that the path is tougher than you thought. Quitting smoking has painful withdrawal symptoms, both physically and mentally.

Almost 90% of the people who decide to quit smoking end up failing. However these pains and discomforts are temporary and fleeting. Needless to say, the long-term dividends of this little endurance is gigantic.

Therefore, there are a few things that you must definitely consider before making this giant leap. Meanwhile, if you want to know how smoking affects your sleep, click here.

The following important points emphasize on the brighter side of quitting smoking. It aims to motivate you to endure this pain for the sake of a brighter future.

1. Smoking Is An Epidemic

Indeed it is! It is responsible for around 90 per cent of all the lung cancer deaths that occur every year in the world. Moreover, smoking just 5 cigarettes a day can make you twice as prone to lung cancer as a non-smoker. So, one must always keep the bigger goals rather than submitting to pressures of temporary escapism.

2. Smoking Kills Your Sex Life:

Smoking decreases sperm count. It decreases blood circulation in the pelvic region, thereby leading to delayed erections and erectile dysfunction.

3. Quitting Smoking Is Good For Heart:

It does wonders to your cardiovascular system. Just after twenty minutes from quitting smoking, the heart beat drops to a normal rate. Within 2 hours, the blood pressure begins to dip.

4. Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms:

It starts around 2 hours from the time one has the last cigarette and may be characterized by drowsiness, headaches, nausea, increased craving, increased stress levels and hyperactivity. It must be remembered that though these symptoms may be very severe at the outset, in reality they are temporary. One should be mentally tough and determined to deal with these symptoms.

5. Quitting Smoking Ups Oxygen Level In Body:

Quitting smoking increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Actually a compound called haemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. However, carbon monoxide which is present in cigarette smoke bonds with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin, thereby decreasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Quitting smoking reverts carbon monoxide's level to normal in the blood.

6. Better Performance At The Gym:

Smoking as discussed above can reduce the cardiovascular functions of the body. It must be remembered that it is this cardiovascular system which aids in the recovery of the muscles that are torn due to activities at the gym.

Thus, quitting smoking helps you recover faster. Moreover, an increased lung capacity increases your capability to perform cardiovascular exercises like running, cycling, etc.

7. Increases Life Expectancy:

Quitting smoking can help you live a long and healthy life. According to a research, a non-smoker lived at least 10 years more than a typical smoker. Quitting smoking today can help you live those extra years with a functional heart and lungs. Further, smoking is the root cause of oral cancer and lung cancer. So, quit early and stay safe.

8. Decreases Stress Level:

Contrary to popular belief, smoking does not ease the stress levels in your body. In fact, the withdrawal from nicotine between cigarettes can heighten feelings of stress.

As the stress of withdrawal feels the same as other stresses, it's easy to confuse normal stress with nicotine withdrawal. So, it can seem like smoking is reducing other stresses, whereas this is not the case.