How Smoking Affects Your Health?

Cigarettes contain about 10 milligrams of nicotine, which is an addictive drug that is responsible for stimulating different parts of the brain. Research conducted on some smokers has proved that they feel a sense of pleasure or relaxation in their central nervous system while smoking.

There is no contradiction that smoking provides a sense of pleasure because whenever a smoker drags a single puff, the harmful chemicals reach the brain within seven seconds, increase the adrenaline, and accelerate heart rate and blood pressure. You will be surprised to know that even school-going teens have started smoking because they have a perception that they look cool with a cigarette in hand.

An estimated 443,000 Americans lose their lives each year, as per reports. It is stated that around $193 billion was spent by Americans on cigarettes in the year 2004. These statistics may be sufficient eye-openers for non-smokers, but for smokers, these facts are just unpractical because of their addiction, and this addiction costs them their lives.

How does smoking affect overall health?

Researchers have stated in their studies that smoking not only affects people’s mental health but also affects the heart, lungs, and even reproductive system. This is because smoking tobacco exposes you to more than 4,000 chemicals and different types of toxins, including nicotine. These hazardous chemicals cause major complications, some of which include:

• Different types of cancers (lung, throat, mouth, and pancreatic cancer)
• Cardiac and circulatory problems
• Change in the physical appearance
• Lowering your stamina
• Premature aging and wrinkles
• Yellowing of the teeth and nails
• Erectile dysfunction or ED (Impotence)

Is it time to beat the smoking habit?

Quitting smoking is the best thing you will ever do in your life because it helps in improving your overall health, saving on medical bills, and also reducing the symptoms of impotence.

Best ways to kick the smoking habit:

You can kick your smoking habit anytime you want to, but try to quit it before you die. Some of the basic home remedies that can help you with smoking cessation are listed below:

1. Water –It is a natural detoxifying agent that may kill your craving to smoke. Always have a glass of water whenever you feel the urge to smoke.
2. Oats –Oats are very beneficial for overall health. It restricts you from gaining weight by keeping you full and reduces your tobacco cravings.
3. Ginger– This is a natural remedy that prevents nausea that occurs from prolonged smoking. Moreover, ginger also works by reducing anxiety about smoking and sheds toxins generated from it.
4. Grape juice– Its acidic content helps flush out the nicotine from the body.
5. Honey –Honey is also regarded as one of the best home remedies, as honey easily handles the cessation process of smoking. It contains beneficial vitamins and proteins, which help smokers give up their habit.

The above-mentioned natural tips may only work if you have a positive attitude towards quitting. This is because quitting smoking varies from person to person. For example, some people can quit smoking within a week, but some take years. So, try to have strong willpower, self-determination, and a positive approach because these will work for you. Below are some of the tips that may help in kicking back on the smoking habit:

1. Make your willpower strong – Select a specific date on which you want to quit smoking.
2. Use alternatives to cigarettes – Keep yourself occupied in different sports activities or even hobbies.
3. Go online for support – Various online support forums are on various social networking sites. You can share your experiences regarding smoking and also post encouraging thoughts for someone else who is struggling with tobacco cravings.
4. Remind yourself of the benefits – Always remember the benefits of quitting smoking. You can remind yourself by writing down the reasons for quitting smoking.

There is another option for quitting cigarettes, including Nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy is the best option that helps you minimize the nicotine cravings associated with nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine replacement therapy is generally considered safe. The therapy includes using various quit-smoking medicines, which include nicotine gums, that mainly supply nicotine to the bloodstream via absorption by the tissues of the mouth. About 1.5-2 million Americans try nicotine gums each year. You can also buy nicotine patches online. Therefore, nicotine gum is the best product for gradually kicking off the tobacco habit. Another product that may help you quit smoking is nicotine patch, which works in the same way as nicotine gums, but in patches as nicotine is passed through the skin and not from the mouth.

Benefits of quitting smoking:

There are various benefits of quitting smoking. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Younger-looking skin: Stopping smoking helps to get rid of wrinkles as the skin of a non-smoker gets all the important nutrients to reverse the sallow and dry skin most smokers often have.
• Improved fertility
• A smoke-free life helps prevent respiratory diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, croup, wheezing, and asthma.
• Lower risk of developing cardiac arrest, heart disease, and lung cancer.
• Quit smoking for a long, healthier life: Men and women who quit smoking by 30 years can add at least 10 additional years to their lives.