Nicotine is the addictive drug in cigarettes that cause smokers to keep smoking. Smokers need a certain amount of nicotine each day in order to feel "normal," and even sometimes it controls their mood and/or cravings. No matter which type of cigarette, the amount of nicotine a person requires depends on how much they inhale.
Some common reasons people decide to start smoking is usually due to peer pressure, parental or media influences, depression or anxiety, rebellion, etc... But do you really know the hard core facts before you pick up that first cigarette? Let's take a look.
Negative Effects on the Body
--Stroke: 2 times more likely
--Cancer: 25 times more likely
If the major health risks weren't enough to convince you not to pick up that first cigarette, take a gander at these outstanding death by smoking statistics.
Death by Smoking Statistics
Now if THAT isn't enough to sway you.... There are shocking environmental negative effects as well.
Negative Effects on the Environment
So.... By now, you should realize that it is really NOT worth it to pick up that first cigarette. And if you are one of the unfortunate who do happen to smoke, there is still time to quit! Below are some benefits of quitting and tips to quit.
Benefits of Quitting
Tips to Quit
Some common reasons people decide to start smoking is usually due to peer pressure, parental or media influences, depression or anxiety, rebellion, etc... But do you really know the hard core facts before you pick up that first cigarette? Let's take a look.
Negative Effects on the Body
- Harms nearly every organ
- More likely to develop heart disease, stroke, cancer
--Stroke: 2 times more likely
--Cancer: 25 times more likely
- Higher risk for COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
- More likely to develop cancer (bladder, blood, cervix, colon, esophagus, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, lung, more)
- Can increase risk for tooth loss\
- Increased risk of Cataracts
- Harms pregnant women's babies
- Can reduce blood flow to skin and legs
- Can block blood flow to the brain
- Inflammation, adverse effects on immune function
If the major health risks weren't enough to convince you not to pick up that first cigarette, take a gander at these outstanding death by smoking statistics.
Death by Smoking Statistics
- Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world.
- Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the US.
- More than 10 times as many US citizens have died from smoking than in all the wars fought by the US in history.
- The risk of dying from smoking has increased significantly over the last 50 years.
- There are 5 million deaths by smoking each year. That's one in ten people worldwide.
- Smoking causes more deaths each year than all of these combined- HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and fire.
- Smoking causes 90% of all lung cancer.
Now if THAT isn't enough to sway you.... There are shocking environmental negative effects as well.
Negative Effects on the Environment
- 1.69 billion cigarette butts end up as waste each year.
- One tree is consumed for every 300 cigarettes produced. 18.6 billion trees are devoured as a result each year.
- The tobacco manufacturing process produces liquid, solid, and airborne wastes, which is an estimated 2262 million kg of manufactured waste and 209 million kg of chemical waste in the atmosphere.
- It is studied and estimated that 1 in 3 cigarettes end up as litter, making it the biggest litter issue in the world.
So.... By now, you should realize that it is really NOT worth it to pick up that first cigarette. And if you are one of the unfortunate who do happen to smoke, there is still time to quit! Below are some benefits of quitting and tips to quit.
Benefits of Quitting
- After 20 Minutes: Heart rate and blood pressure drops.
- After 12 Hours: CO2 level in blood drops to normal.
- After 2-3 Weeks: Circulation and lung function increases.
- After 1-9 Months: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; lung function regains to normal, and gains the ability to handle music and clean lungs
- After 1 Year: Heart disease risk is cut in half.
- After 10 Years: Risk of cancer is cut in half.
- After 15 Years: Heart disease risk is back to normal.
Tips to Quit
- Commit yourself fully.
- Make a Plan.
- Know your motivation.
- Reward yourself.
- Drink water, chew gum, snacks, anything to occupy your mouth when you have an urge.
- Replace bad habits with good- exercise, deep breathing, self massage.
- After the first 2 days, nicotine withdrawal is over- after that, it's all mental. Occupy yourself some other way.
- THINK POSITIVE :)