5 Reasons Why You Should Quit Smoking

1) The Immediate Rewards

The dangers of smoking cigarettes are often measured in the long term, but you’ll find yourself feeling far better within days of going smokefree. There is no safe amount of cigarette smoke. The chemicals reach directly into your lungs every time you inhale, carrying toxins around your bloodstream, affecting your short-term health as much as the long term. Your body will in fact begin to heal within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, with the nicotine leaving your system in around 2-3 days. The immediate benefits of quitting differ from person to person, but studies show that many feel fresher and more energetic even after a few days.

2) Protect Others Around You

When you smoke, it impacts others around you. The negative effects of secondhand smoke are well known. This is the smoke that is produced when you exhale, plus the smoke created by the lit end of a cigarette. This isn’t just unpleasant; it can be a killer. More than 80% of secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless, so no matter how careful you think you’re being, your family and friends still breathe in harmful chemicals - more than 4000 of them. By kicking the habit, you can protect yourself and those close to you.

3) Avoid Serious Health Problems

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. Every year around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking. Worldwide, the WHO estimates the death toll between 6-8 million people dying every year as a direct result of tobacco. This is a shocking statistic and should make anyone think twice about lighting up. Smoking increases your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions, including heart disease, strokes, heart attack, lung cancer, throat cancer, chronic pulmonary disease and many more.

4) Long Term Benefits

Stopping smoking can help add years to your life. Smokers who quit before the age of 40 reduce their chance of dying too early from smoking-related diseases by about 90%. Those who quit by age 45–54 reduce their chance of dying too early by about two-thirds. You can take control of your health by quitting and staying smokefree. Over time, you’ll greatly lower your risk of death from lung cancer and other diseases. When you quit, you’ll also protect your loved ones from dangerous secondhand smoke. You’ll be setting a good example and show your friends and family that a life without cigarettes is possible.

5) Vaping Alternatives

Making the switch from tobacco to vaping electronic cigarettes has become a hugely popular choice in recent years. Vaping is a great middle-ground option that is at least 95% safer than smoking (Public Health England, 2015) and offers a vast array of exciting e-liquid flavours, nicotine strengths and e-cigarette devices to choose from. E-liquids are made from Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol and don’t produce harmful chemicals, so no secondhand smoke and no serious health problems to look forward to.