Benefits of Quitting

Thanks to anti-smoking campaigns and statements in recent years from the Surgeon General's office, most ex-smokers are motivated to quit by health worries. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control in the 1990s showed that, on average, adult male smokers die more than 13 years earlier than nonsmoking men. Women sacrifice even more of their lifetime - 14.5 years.

The good news is, no matter when you quit (even if you've smoked for long periods or are already suffering from a smoking-associated disease), benefits begin to accrue almost immediately. In addition to adding years to your life, the rewards of overcoming a smoking habit are many and significant:

  • Reduce the risk of chronic lung disease, cancer, heart attack and stroke
  • Reduce the risk of low birth-weight babies for women who stop smoking before getting pregnant or within the first trimester. Also, babies are less likely to suffer respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, or die from sudden infant death syndrome.
  • Stop secondhand smoke damage to family, friends and co-workers
  • Decrease the risk of early menopause and infertility among women
  • Rid your environment of the lingering smell of cigarettes on clothing, hair, furniture, drapes and in the car
  • Keep the skin from wrinkling prematurely
  • No longer have cigarette breath, stained teeth, gum disease and yellowed fingernails
  • Enhance the sense of smell and taste
  • Breathe more easily during exercise
  • Serve as a role model for children in your household
  • Save money
  • Enjoy being comfortable in public places where smoking is prohibited

What may be surprising to some are the rapid - and positive - physical changes that take place when a person stops smoking. The argument that it is too late to quit smoking because the damage is already done is a dangerous myth. Twenty minutes after quitting, the heart rate drops. Twelve hours later, carbon monoxide in the blood drops to normal levels. Within two weeks to three months, circulation improves and lung function increases. At nine months, the individual coughs less and breathing improves. As nonsmoking years go on, the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and lung cancer continues to decrease.

Continue article to learn about strategies for quitting.