In spite of decades of warnings from the government and doctors, nearly a quarter of Americans still smoke regularly. Millions of people have quit smoking since the government first reported a link between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer in 1964, but many people continue to smoke cigarettes and thousands of teenagers begin smoking monthly.
Do you enjoy smoking but are not ready to quit?
Why do people smoke cigarettes? Simply put, it’s pleasant. Nicotine produces dopamine in the brain, and dopamine affects the brain’s pleasure centers. People smoke cigarettes because it’s a pleasant experience. They go on smoking because nicotine is addictive. After a brief time of smoking, the body begins having withdrawal symptoms if the smoker tries to quit.
Here are a few facts to think about if you are contemplating quitting smoking:
1. Smoking is costly. A pack a day habit can cost more than $1500 each year.
2. Cigarette smokers lose an average of three additional work days annually because of illness than nonsmokers.
3. Smokers take more time to recover from injuries or surgery than nonsmokers.
4. Smokers pay more for health insurance than nonsmokers.
5. Smokers often have difficulty exercising due to shortness of breath.
With all of these things and more as drawbacks to cigarette smoking, why don’t more people stop? It’s simple – it’s difficult to quit. Each man or women responds differently to nicotine. Some people are more “hooked” than others, making it harder for them to quit. Longtime smokers have the routine of continually having something in their mouth or hands, and such habits are difficult to break.
Smoking facts and what you MUST KNOW
New technology has made it possible for people who smoke to wean themselves from cigarettes in numerous ways. Nicotine patches and gum are available at most drug stores. These solutions help maintain a steady dose of nicotine in the smoker’s bloodstream, making it unnecessary for them to smoke to receive their nicotine fix. Electronic cigarettes have been created, which provide an inhalable mist that provides tobacco flavoring and nicotine, but no smoke. These devices are battery operated and can provide the smoker’s need for nicotine without generating the carbon monoxide, tar and smoke that regular cigarettes produce.
In the long run, the choice to give up smoking or not rests with the individual smoker. The motivations for quitting are well documented, and any smoker who cares about their health should consider either quitting or cutting back. Obviously, counseling help is readily available from a number of sources as well, so that smokers can be motivated to quit by talking to others who have quit.
If you want to quit cigarette smoking, you can. If you still need the nicotine, there are non-smoking alternatives available to you.
Related posts:
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
