Do You Want To Quit Smoking But Need Help?

March 30, 2008 | All Smoking Articles, Quit Smoking Now

If you hear yourself saying, “I want to quit smoking but need serious help” you are not alone. Today, it is estimated that close to 30 million people just in the United States smoke, with 1.1 billion worldwide! Of those, many are also saying, “I want to stop smoking” but feel just as you do. Instead of feeling discouraged or defeated, we want you to feel confident in your desire, knowing that you can quit as long as you have a good support system, use the right resources and tools, and maintain a determined attitude.

The road to quit smoking can seem like a long one but the benefits gained as a result are worth every rough step in the process. When you stop smoking, you are adding years back onto your life. What could be better than that? If you are serious and are now saying, “I want to quit smoking”, we believe in you and want to provide you with reasons why you need to stick with this goal.

Smoking after all is not just dangerous but expensive and damaging to people around you. For instance, if you smoke and have children in the home, you are subjecting your children to secondhand smoke, which is just as harmful as firsthand cigarette smoke. The sad part of this scenario is that children have no say in whether they breathe in smoke but you do. We are not trying to make you feel guilty but trying to show you the reality of smoking by answering some of the most commonly asked questions.

If you are serious when you say, “I want to quit smoking”, then get ready for the change of a lifetime, a change that you will never regret since your life and health will be much better.

• How many people die annually directly relating to cigarette smoke? - Current numbers show that nearly four million deaths occur every year from tobacco, which includes cigarette smoking, cigar smoking, pipe smoking, and chew. This number is not only staggering but surpasses other causes of death, including car accidents, homicide, suicide, TB, and AIDS - COMBINED! Therefore, when you think to yourself, “I want to stop smoking”, you can see the seriousness of that statement.
• We know many of the publicized issues caused by smoking. However, what additional health issues are not talked about? - For one thing, coronary artery disease has been shown to have a direct link to cigarette smoke, resulting in more deaths annually than seen with lung cancer. Then, while many people quit smoking to stop the fear of lung cancer, they forget about other types of cancer relating to smoking such as oral, throat, cervix, bladder, and kidney. Finally, pregnant women who smoke put their unborn baby at greater risk for SIDS, ear infections, and birth defects such as cleft lip and/or palate.
• Can damage caused by cigarette smoking be reversed? The good news here is that in some cases, yes. Although the reversal process associated with quitting smoking takes years, lung function is recovered. Additionally, within days of stopping smoking, your body is already enjoying benefits.
• Does smoking cause stroke? - Smoking causes the arteries to harden, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, hardening of the arteries is one of the many causes of stroke so the answer is yes. In fact, the chance of a smoker having a stroke is much higher than it would be for a non-smoker.

The next time you state, “I want to stop smoking”, give yourself a standing ovation, you deserve it. During life, we make many important decisions but those that can improve or benefit our health are the most critical. Stopping smoking will take some effort and time but working through the process will help you reach your goal. No matter what - do not give up!

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