15 benefits of quitting smoking: reasons to quit smoking

A review of several compelling reasons to quit smoking and start a healthier life.

The vast majority of the population knows that smoking is bad for your health, and is linked to such serious problems (among many others) as a much greater likelihood of suffering fromIt is linked to such serious problems (among many others) as a much greater likelihood of lung cancer, a decrease in life expectancy and severe respiratory (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cardiovascular problems.

Although even today smoking is still socially acceptable, a large number of smokers are considering trying to quit this dangerous dependence.

Although it is difficult and at first there is often some anxiety, in the long run quitting smoking is highly beneficial. In order to make clear some of the advantages of achieving this, in this article we will see 15 benefits of quitting smoking.

Smoking: brief definition

Before starting to name the various benefits of quitting smoking, it may be advisable to make a brief mention of the problem we are dealing with.

Smoking is defined as the physical and especially psychological dependence that a consumer manifests towards tobacco and specifically towards its main component, the specifically to its main component, nicotine.. This dependence comes from a progressive habituation to nicotine, the organism having become accustomed to nicotine and needing increasingly larger amounts of tobacco to notice the same effects and a series of physiological symptoms (e.g. anxiety).

Tobacco addiction, although culturally and throughout history it has been well regarded and has even been associated with moments of relaxation and socialization, has serious consequences for health when consumption continues for years.

As mentioned in the introduction, it is linked to a decrease in life expectancy, is often behind the vast majority of COPD cases and influences other respiratory diseases.It makes Blood vessels more fragile and brittle (something that also facilitates cardiovascular problems and favors the appearance of strokes), increases the level of fatigue during physical activity, can cause erectile dysfunction or malformations in fetuses and has been linked for years to the dreaded lung cancer. These are just some of the possible repercussions that its long-term maintenance can cause.

This information, together with other factors (the fact that it can also affect passive smokers such as children, the economic expense or the reduced ability to maintain physical effort, for example) make many people try to quit, although cessation of consumption usually generates withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, anxiety and irritability.

Quitting smoking: benefits of smoking cessation

Knowing the benefits of quitting smoking for a smoker, mainly related to the cessation or cessation of consumptionThe benefits of quitting smoking, mainly related to the cessation or reduction of the risks or effects of tobacco consumption, can contribute to visualizing the goal as something desirable. It is important to keep in mind that such benefits may not be experienced in some cases, in which problems have already appeared that will be permanent.

Below we will look at some fifteen of the most common benefits.

1. Recovery of normal heart rate and blood pressure.

This effect is probably one of the fastest to occur, since it appears within twenty minutes of non-consumption. An improvement in pulmonary capacity and circulation is also observed already during the first month, and in both cases the improvement increases with the passage of time until it reaches normality.

2. Life expectancy gradually returns to normal.

Compared to a non-smoker, someone who is addicted to tobacco gradually reduces his or her life expectancy depending on how much he or she smokes and how long he or she has been a smoker. Specifically, quitting before the age of 30 usually means a life expectancy ten years longer than those who continue to smoke, while at the age of 40, the life expectancy of those who quit before the age of 40 is ten years longer.At forty, the average is nine, at fifty it is six and at sixty it is three.

3. The risk of cancer is reduced

Lung cancer is probably the disease with which smoking has traditionally been most associated. In addition to lung cancer, another of the most common cancers in smokers is tracheal cancer. These and others such as bladder, pancreatic or mouth cancer will see how cessation of consumption reduces their probability of appearing over time, decreasing by half after ten years.

4. Lung capacity is recovered

Although some of the damage will never be reversed, as happens with life expectancy, part of the lung capacity recovers as the years go by without smoking.

Gradually, the typical bronchitis and coughing (although at the beginning of quitting smoking there is usually more coughing than before as the body tries to expel the mucus from the lungs) is reduced, as well as increasing the amount of time you can keep smoking. increase the amount of time you can keep doing physical exercise.. Fatigue usually decreases after the first month, in line with the progressive recovery of lung capacity.

5. The risk of coronary and cerebrovascular disease is reduced.

Another of the most common causes of death in smokers is coronary heart disease, something that will gradually be reduced as time passes without consumption. Already during the first year the risks are reduced by almost half, and after fifteen years without smoking it is estimated that the risk of a coronary problem is already similar to that of a non-smoker.

Similarly, the probability of stroke is reduced, the likelihood of stroke is reduced to normal (over a period that can vary (in a period that can vary between five or ten years, depending on each case). The risk of repeated coronary events also decreases.

6. Improves the immune system: less likelihood of getting sick.

As a general rule, it has been observed that smokers tend to get sick more often than non-smokers, for example, they can catch various infections more easily. The fact is that tobacco worsens the functioning of the immune system.. As time goes by without the ex-smoker consuming, the capacity of this system to defend itself from aggressions and harmful elements will increase again to normality.

7. The sense of smell and taste return to normal

One of the alterations that smokers are probably aware of is the fact that they will gradually lose their ability to perceive smell and taste, since the nervous system will lose functionality with consumption. Fortunately with a few days of abstinence, these senses return to normal functioning..

8. It decreases the probability of injuries, broken bones and muscular problems.

Although it may not be well known, it has been observed that smokers have a greater tendency to suffer fractures and broken bones or muscle injuries, and in turn, they tend to take longer to recover. The same is true for surgical injuries. Quitting smoking may not restore the damaged structures, but it can restore the rate of tissue recovery to normal. the rate of tissue recovery.

9. Less dizziness and headaches

Although it does not occur in everyone, it is not uncommon for very regular smokers to suffer from dizziness and headaches caused by the narrowing and increased fragility of the brain's blood vessels, as well as by the reduced amount of oxygen reaching the brain.

Smokers who quit smoking are likely to initially experience an increase in these symptoms, but as the oxygen levels to the brain improve, they may experience an increase in dizziness and headaches. oxygen levels to the brain improve, they may initially experience an increase in these symptoms, but as oxygen levels to the brain improve, they may experience an increase in these symptoms. these problems will be progressively reduced.

10. It contributes to improve sexuality

It is well known that smoking can cause a decrease in erectile capacity in men, something that can be reversed to the point of being able to recover the usual erectile capacity (although it will depend on each case). And not only in the erection itself, but the desire and satisfaction achieved during sexual intercourse is also greater in both sexes as the blood flow and oxygenation are not blood flow and oxygenation of the erogenous zones are not hindered by vascular hindered by the vasoconstrictor effects of nicotine.

11. It favors fertility

Another possible effect of tobacco is the worsening and loss of semen and sperm quality, making it difficult to have children. In addition, in the event of pregnancy, the fact that the mother smokes can facilitate the appearance of alterations and malformations in the fetus, as well as spontaneous abortions.. Quitting smoking reduces this risk.

12. Healthier skin and teeth

Tobacco also has an adverse effect on the skin, causing it to age prematurely. The teeth are also affected, favoring the arrival of problems such as tartar and pyorrhea and coloring the teeth. Although in this sense the problems that have already appeared do not usually disappear (although the brightness of the skin and its elasticity usually recover), quitting smoking will prevent them from being accentuated.

13. An effect on the economy

Although it is not a direct effect on your health, quitting smoking also means cessation of a regular and constant expense, which is also becoming more and more expensive (as the price increases). (as the price increases).

14. Strengthening of self-esteem and self-efficacy

Quitting an addiction such as smoking is something that can be extremely hard for those who suffer from it, since both their body and mind have become accustomed to functioning with constant doses of nicotine. Successful quitting, therefore, requires perseverance and fortitude, which, if the final goal is achieved, can foster an improvement of one's self-esteem and confidence in one's own possibilities.

15. Benefits for others

Not only your own health is favored by quitting smoking, but also your close environment will also be less likely to suffer from some health problems derived from passive smoking. health problems derived from being a passive smoker..

Bibliographic references:

• American Cancer Society (n.d.). The benefits of quitting smoking over time. [Online]. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/es/saludable/mantengase-alejado-del-tabaco/los-beneficios-que-ofrece-dejar-de-fumar-con-el-paso-del-tiempo.html
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). The main beneficial effects of quitting smoking. Tobacco Free Initiative [Online]. Available at: http://www.who.int/tobacco/quitting/benefits/es/.