Thought you heard the last horror tale on smoking and what it does to your body? We'd think not! 4 Gals N Boys takes a long hard look at why you should stop lighting up and how you can overcome the odds, so that you can continue with your fave activities of clubbing, doing sports and having fun in life.
Reasons to stub it out
The word is out. Tobaco smoke has been scientifically proven to be associated with a host of illnesses. Among the more unpleasant ones are:
Emphysema
Emphysema slowly destroys the lungs, making breathing so difficult that a simple walk in the park is not possible.
Lung Cancer and other cancers
Tar and nicotine in cigarettes are known to lead to lung cancer. Surgery is ineffective against lung cancer and victims are known to die within months of diagnosis. Smokers are also at risk of contracting cancers of the lip, mouth, throat, larynx, bladder, pancreas, stomach, cervix and kidneys.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular disease is caused by nicotine and carbon monoxide found in tobacco smoke. This disease saps your energy and makes breathing very difficult.
Reduced Fertility
Female smokers are usually less fertile than their non-smoking counterparts. They take longer to conceive and are more likely to have miscarriages.
Impotence
Male smokers are more prone to impotence as tobacco smoke damages the blood vessels in the penis.
Harm to smoker's children
Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to be underweight or born premature. They are also more likely to develop pneumonia bronchitis in their first year of life than those of non-smoking parents. They also tend to suffer from more frequent and severe attacks of asthma.
Ways to give it up
Nobody said walking away from cigarettes is easy. If you have ever tried to quit smoking, you would know just how tough it can be. However, don't despair. When there is a will, there is a way. And here are 10 ways to help you along in your "Quit Mission":
1. Be a smoke detective. Observe your smoking routine for a few days: the time, place, circumstances, company you are with and how you feel when you light up.
2. Write the details down and identify when you are most likely to smoke.
3. Select a day to give up smoking. Mark the date on the calendar with your highlighter. Call it your "Quit Day". Write down a list of important reasons to give up smoking. Keep your "Quit List" handy so that you can hold onto it at moments of temptation. Make photocopies in case you misplace it.
4. Go to a library and get a book that contains pictures of the consequences of smoking. Zap these too and put them with your "Quit List".
5. On the day before your "Quit Day", do a house inspection. Dump all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays.
6. Get support from people you love and trust, such as your family and friends. Tell them honestly that you want your "Quit Mission" to succeed. If there are smokers among them, ask them not to smoke around you.
7. Find innovative and healthy ways to curb the urge to light up. For instance, crunch on crisp carrot sticks or drink fruit juice.
8. Each time you feel that you can't hold on, stop, relax and breathe deeply. Focus on the tasks you were doing, exercise or fish out your "Quit List" to remind yourself to persist in your efforts. Anything that shifts your attention away from smoking for a few minutes can help.
9. Tick each day that you have remained a non-smoker on the calendar. The progress will encourage you to stay smoke-free.
10. Save your cigarette money in a jar, and spend it on treats for yourself. Or better still, donate it to charity!
Things you can look forward to
Your lungs are recovering, now that they are no longer irritated by tobacco smoke. You feel good, but you look even better. Your teeth are whiter, your breath is fresher and you have fewer wrinkles (time to throw out those smokers' toothpaste, breath fresheners and lotions!). Your bank account also gets healthier! But the best thing is the sense of satisfaction you get from rejecting the habit. If you can handle the quitting process, you can handle just about anything. So don't be controlled by the Tobacco Tormentor anymore! Remember that it is never too late to give up smoking. Whenever you decide to take the plunge, you will be helping yourself gain better health and preserving yourself for your loved ones.
Labels: cardiovascular diseases, emphysema, giving up smoking, harmful, horror, impotence, lighting up, lung cancer, other cancer, reduced fertility, smoke detective, smoker's children, smoking, tobacco smoke
