Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things you can do. Whether you have smoked for decades or only recently taken up the habit, it can have a negative impact on your health and wellness over time. There are several benefits associated with giving up smoking for good. Continue reading to find out what they are and how they can improve your life today.
1. To no longer smell like smoke
Smelling like smoke is just one of the many side effects of smoking on a daily basis. If you smell like smoke, people are less likely to want to be close to you or even within walking distance of you. This can have a drastic impact on your relationship with non-smoking friends or family members. Smokers are conscious of how smoke can linger on their clothes and hair when they are with others at home or in public. They are also aware of how much it can affect their breath when communicating with others. By quitting the habit for good, you will no longer smell like a walking cigarette and can gradually heal your relationship with your loved ones.
2. There are many alternatives available
Cigarettes are no longer the only option available to those insistent on smoking on a daily basis. There is a wide range of alternatives available on the global smoking market today. These include electronic cigarettes, vapes, patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers, and nasal spray. If you are looking for a way to quit smoking whilst still appeasing your nicotine cravings, you may benefit from nicotine pouches. They are small, pre-portioned pouches of synthetic nicotine that can be placed between the gum and upper lip to provide a slow release of nicotine over time. They are a relatively new addition to the world of anti-smoking alternatives, but users have reported great results so far. To find out more about nicotine pouches, check out the wide range of brands available on the recently launched Snusboss.com.
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3. To restore your sense of smell and taste
Smoking cigarettes on a regular basis can coat your taste buds in a thick layer of film and dull your sense of smell. This can affect your ability to taste food properly and often leads to unintentional weight loss. Smokers often report food tasting differently to how it used to before they took up smoking. But these problems can disappear by ditching the habit for good. Quitting smoking can restore your senses to full functionality and allow you to enjoy food again. Results can take some time to materialise, but you may notice a big difference within a couple of days.
4. To prevent premature ageing
Smoking is one of the leading causes of premature ageing. The effects of ageing can have a dramatic impact on the inside and outside of the entire body, but the face is where most changes tend to occur. Smoking for a prolonged period of time can trigger wrinkles, gauntness, yellow teeth, and leathery skin. The chemicals found in cigarettes can prompt biological changes in the body that can speed up the ageing process. For example, smoking can deprive the skin of oxygen by restricting blood vessels. As a result, your skin gradually loses its colour and elasticity and can appear grey and weathered. Another key side effect of smoking is the yellowing of the skin and nails caused by a build-up of tar. As well as causing an unsightly appearance, this can also be irreversible.
5. To reduce infections
There are a number of negative side effects directly associated with smoking cigarettes on a regular basis. However, many smokers are unaware that they are far more susceptible to suffering from the cold and flu than non-smokers. Studies have proven that smokers are much more likely to catch both viral and bacterial infections. Smoking can paralyse tiny hairs found within the respiratory tract, trachea, and bronchial tubes called cilia that are designed to prevent infection. This can end up destroying one of the body’s most effective core methods of preventing infection and increase your chances of suffering from a wide range of illnesses and ailments. Quitting smoking for as little as a month can restore your cilia to full functionality once again.
6. To protect yourself and others around you
Smoking can negatively impact the health of not only yourself but others around you too. Second-hand smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. 4000 chemicals can be found in tobacco smoke alone and more than 40 of these are known carcinogens. This is an agent with the capacity to cause cancer. One puff of smoke is all it takes to trigger a heart attack or a stroke in a passer-by with a suppressed immune system or someone predisposed to those conditions. With so much potential damage to those around you, just imagine how much your own body is suffering on a daily basis. Tobacco smoke can also cause blood platelets to clot and become sticky which can increase your risk of several heart conditions such as heart attacks and heart failure.
7. To save money
Aside from a wide range of health benefits, quitting smoking can also save you a considerable amount of money in the long run. The expenses associated with smoking can differ depending on the severity of your habit, but costs can add up. With the cost of one pack of cigarettes as much as £15, it is not just your health that stands to dwindle over time. Costs can reach thousands over the course of a year. This is money that can be better spent on something that will improve your quality of life. The economic and healthcare costs of smoking per year are also high. With fees mounting with every passing day, there is no time like the present to kick the habit for good.
There are several benefits associated with stopping smoking. By quitting cold turkey or taking up a healthier alternative, you can come to your senses and protect yourself as well as others around you.
