Reasons to Quit Smoking for Good

Tis' the Season

The beginning of a new year is a time when people commit themselves to a resolution or several resolutions that they may or often do not keep. Among the top resolutions Americans make is to quit smoking; other big resolution hopefuls are loosing weight, and saving money. Many of these resolutions go by the wayside within a few months, but quitting smoking is one resolution all smokers should make and keep.

People choose to quit for many different reasons, others justify starting back up for many reasons. Some of the reasons people quit are for health, to save money, and/or to live a healthier lifestyle. Various ways to quit smoking such as nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, and even homeopathic therapies include hypnotism. Which ever way a person decides to quit smoking the most important tool in their possession is willpower; no one ever quits smoking that isn't committed to doing so.

Quitting for Health

Cigarettes have dozens of cancer causing chemicals in each one, as a smoker you are more likely to develop over 14 different types of cancer, and damage nearly every part of your body. Smoking cigarettes can also cause strokes, cataracts, periodontitis, and coronary heart disease. Plus second hand smoke can even harm the people around you that don't smoke, both the smoke coming off of your cigarette and the smoke you exhale after smoking are dangerous; although there is no conclusive evidence yet, scientists believe that the smoke left on a person's (smokers and non smokers alike) clothing, skin or hair could have cancer causing effects over a period of time.

Financial Costs

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids the national average for a pack of cigarettes (in 2006) is $4.32. That may not seem like a lot but depending on how much you smoke a day, it could really add up. For example, a person who smokes on pack per day is spending $129.60 each month; which is $1555.20 a year. What could an average family do with an extra $1,500?

On a national level smoking cost our country about $81.9 billion dollars annually, (according to a National Cancer Society Study of mortality-related losses from 1995-1999) that works out to about $1,760 for each adult smoker. For individual medical costs, according to a study in 1998, smokers can expect to pay as much as $1,623 more for medical costs every year. That brings the non smoking savings to about $3,123 each year, that's a pretty big 'carrot' to chase.

Leading a Healthier Lifestyle

People who smoke are more likely to get sick, and often stay sick longer than nonsmokers do; additionally smoking reduces the amount of vitamin C in the body, vitamin C is vital to the body's immune system. Smokers often have more general health problems than nonsmokers do, and no matter how long a person has been smoking, they still will benefit from quitting. The body will begin to detoxify itself within days, and will continue to repair it self until it is virtually as healthy as a life long nonsmoking peer.

Willpower

Willpower will decide if a smoker quits for life, quits for a time or never actually tries to quit at all; nicotine is a serious addiction and will test that person to their limit. Having a quit smoking date, a quit smoking plan, support people, and following through will help a smoker on their way to quitting, even when using smoking cessations therapies, the only person who can make a smoker quit smoking is the smoker.