With a cigarette in my hand I felt like a dead man…
Every cigarette you smoke can shorten your life by an average of five and a half minutes. Yet smokers either cannot believe that such illnesses will afflict them or are unable or unwilling to give up the habit.
Tobacco smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia today. Eighty two percent of deaths caused in Australia are due to tobacco intake, 16% due to alcohol intake including road accidents and 2% due to illicit drugs. In 1992 the death rate due to smoking was counted up to 18,920 which was nine times more than that caused by road accidents. The consumption of tobacco has been extensive in the adult population, which forms about one quarter of the inhabitants in Australia.
Facts for quick reference
Why Quit Smoking?
How to quit?
As the famous saying goes, “It’s never too late” no matter how old you are or for how long you have smoked, you can always take the first step to quit smoking for increasing your life span. Research revels that people who quit smoking before completing 30 yrs of age can get rid of 90% of risks related to tobacco. There is a major improvement in your health after quitting even though you have fallen prey to some disease related to smoking. People who do away with this habit can live a much healthier and prosperous life. There is an immense improvement in the immune system and chances of cold & flu, bronchitis and pneumonia are reduced to a great extent.
There are two main ways to quit smoking - immediately and gradually. Both these ways have their pros and cons. Immediate quitting of cigarettes is called ‘Cold Turkey’, a manner in which you stop smoking suddenly using your willpower. It gives a very obnoxious felling. The other way is to gradually quit smoking by using Nicotine Replacement Theory (NRT). It means using nicotine to gradually quit smoking. You can use nicotine gum, nicotine patches or lozenges to eventually quit. Try to quit at your own pace cutting down cigarette by cigarette.
Tips on quitting:
Every cigarette you smoke can shorten your life by an average of five and a half minutes. Yet smokers either cannot believe that such illnesses will afflict them or are unable or unwilling to give up the habit.
Tobacco smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia today. Eighty two percent of deaths caused in Australia are due to tobacco intake, 16% due to alcohol intake including road accidents and 2% due to illicit drugs. In 1992 the death rate due to smoking was counted up to 18,920 which was nine times more than that caused by road accidents. The consumption of tobacco has been extensive in the adult population, which forms about one quarter of the inhabitants in Australia.
Quit smoking today.
Facts for quick reference
- Percentage of Australian men smoking in 1945 was 72%, which has dropped down to 18.6% in 2004.
- Percentage of Australian women smoking in 1945 was 26% it increased in 1976 to 33% but in 2004 it reduced to 16.3%.
- Rate of smoking for men in the age group of 20-29 yrs has been 24% and that for women has been 22.9%.
- Rate of smoking for students at the age of 12 has been 3.1%-boys and 6.2%-girls.
- The percentage has risen to 22.8% among 17-year-old boys and girls.
- Smoking rate among men and women working in factories is higher than that in offices and professional field.
- Students who quit school at an early age are more addicted to smoking than the ones who pursue higher education.
Cancer- Cigarette smoking is one of the main reasons for lung cancer. The tar contained in the cigarette and also other harmful chemicals is the chief cause for cancer. Benzene, cadmium and formaldehyde are some of the harmful chemicals, which are carcinogenic. Low-tar or mild cigarette also creates risk for cancer growth.
Arteriosclerosis- It is a disease related to the heart wherein fatty deposits called atheroma accumulate in the arteries. Chemicals are released into the body due to cigarette smoking making the blood vessels sticky, which leads to accumulation of ateroma. This could rupture the lining of the artery and also cause blood clot.
Cause of Strokes- Smoking increases the danger of blood pressure, blood clotting and narrowing and furring of the arteries, which causes stroke.
Cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- It is a condition that describes chronic bronchitis & emphysema resulting in difficulty in breathing. Narrows the air passage to the lungs damaging them ultimately making it tough for the air to pass through.
Arteriosclerosis- It is a disease related to the heart wherein fatty deposits called atheroma accumulate in the arteries. Chemicals are released into the body due to cigarette smoking making the blood vessels sticky, which leads to accumulation of ateroma. This could rupture the lining of the artery and also cause blood clot.
Cause of Strokes- Smoking increases the danger of blood pressure, blood clotting and narrowing and furring of the arteries, which causes stroke.
Cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- It is a condition that describes chronic bronchitis & emphysema resulting in difficulty in breathing. Narrows the air passage to the lungs damaging them ultimately making it tough for the air to pass through.
Why Quit Smoking?
- Quitting to smoke results in a good health and endurance.
- Smoking largely results in different kinds of cancer like mouth cancer, throat cancer and esophagus cancer.
- It causes lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema that are fatal.
- Smoking has a bad effect on the skin causing early wrinkles
- It leads to bad breath, smelly clothes and turns fingernails and fingertips yellow.
- Major cause of heart attack.
- Smoking also leads to miscarriage and other abnormalities in babies.
- Smoking is expensive too; so quitting to smoke helps you reduce your costs as well.
As the famous saying goes, “It’s never too late” no matter how old you are or for how long you have smoked, you can always take the first step to quit smoking for increasing your life span. Research revels that people who quit smoking before completing 30 yrs of age can get rid of 90% of risks related to tobacco. There is a major improvement in your health after quitting even though you have fallen prey to some disease related to smoking. People who do away with this habit can live a much healthier and prosperous life. There is an immense improvement in the immune system and chances of cold & flu, bronchitis and pneumonia are reduced to a great extent.
There are two main ways to quit smoking - immediately and gradually. Both these ways have their pros and cons. Immediate quitting of cigarettes is called ‘Cold Turkey’, a manner in which you stop smoking suddenly using your willpower. It gives a very obnoxious felling. The other way is to gradually quit smoking by using Nicotine Replacement Theory (NRT). It means using nicotine to gradually quit smoking. You can use nicotine gum, nicotine patches or lozenges to eventually quit. Try to quit at your own pace cutting down cigarette by cigarette.
Tips on quitting:
- Do away with all cigarettes and ashtrays from your home, car and work place.
- Let people around you know that you will quit smoking. In a way try to get encouragement from others.
- When you feel like taking a puff get involved in some other activity like talking to a friend, going for a walk or a refreshing cup of tea.
- Consider quitting as a favor for yourself and feel proud about it.
- Try not to indulge in any other activities like drinking coffee, consuming alcohol, sitting in a bar etc.
- Intake a lot of fresh fruit juices which would help in removing nicotine from your body.
- Eat vegetables to avoid weight gain.
- Visit places that are prohibited for smoking like library, movie and so on.
- Start with deep breathing exercises.
