Why you need to stop smoking tobacco today

About 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. Furthermore, lung cancer claims the lives of more women each year than breast cancer. About 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking (COPD), needless to say, that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
In both men and women, cigarette smoking raises the chance of dying from any cause. We don’t want to terrify you, but you must stop smoking.

What You Can Find in a Cigarette

According to the American Lung Association, “There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. Cigarettes emit around 7,000 compounds when they are burned. At least 69 of these substances have been linked to cancer, with many of them being hazardous.”

Cigarettes include the following chemical components:

Nicotine

Nicotine is a colorless and deadly chemical found in tobacco plants. It’s a strong substance that affects the brain and becomes addictive quickly

Carbon monoxide

Tobacco combustion produces an odorless and colorless gas. It enters the bloodstream, interfering with the heart’s and blood vessels’ functions when breathed. Up to 15% of a smoker’s blood may contain carbon monoxide rather than oxygen.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a chemical element that can be found in both gray and yellow forms in the periodic table’s nitrogen group. Small amounts of arsenic-containing pesticides used in tobacco farming can be found in cigarette smoke. Rat poison frequently contains arsenic.

Ammonia

Ammonia is a poisonous, colorless gas with an unpleasant odor. Cleaning products and fertilizers frequently contain ammonia compounds, they are also used to increase the effect of nicotine in cigarettes.

Acetone

Acetone is a colorless, transparent liquid. It’s a type of solvent that can dissolve or degrade other materials like paint, varnish, or grease. It immediately dissipates into the atmosphere. Acetone is found in trees and other plants, as well as in tobacco smoke and car exhaust.

Toluene

When exposed to air at room temperature, toluene is a transparent, colorless liquid that turns into a vapor. Toluene is a recreational inhalant that has the potential to cause severe neurological damage.

READ ALSO: 6 Natural Ways To Help You Sleep Better

What to Expect when you stop smoking tobacco

Stopping smoking is one of the most important steps someone can take to improve their health. This is true, no matter their age or length of the smoking experience. Quitting smoking can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory problems, and reproductive issues as the case may be
Why you should quit smoking;

• It improves one’s quality of life and promotes good health.
• Reduces the risk of premature death and can extend life by up to ten years.
• People who have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease will benefit from not smoking as it would strengthen the heart over time. 
• The health of pregnant mothers, their fetuses, and their kids can be improved.
• Reduces the risk of having a baby with a low birth weight during pregnancy. Issues like breathing problems, jaundice, and other infections are reduced in the baby 
• Pregnancy risks such as tissue damage, notably in the lungs and brain of the unborn baby may be reduced if one quits smoking before pregnancy. 

What is the most effective method for quitting smoking?

There is no single ideal method to stop smoking. Everyone’s smoking habits, levels of addiction, and tastes are unique. What works for one individual may not work for someone else. As a result, the best way to quit smoking tobacco includes more than one proven approach. Here are some;

A treatment plan tailored to you.

A qualified tobacco specialist will assess your nicotine dependence, readiness to stop, and preferred way of learning. The specialist will create a treatment plan tailored to your needs in order to increase your chances of quitting successfully.

Medication

The latest tobacco treatment drugs, such as bupropion, varenicline, and/or nicotine replacement therapies, are part of your treatment approach (e.g., nicotine gum or the patch).

Prepare Your Mind

You’ll need some time to prepare your mind and body for success before quitting — 14 to 30 days is usually ideal. At this stage, you are advised to gradually cut down on your regular daily consumption

Quit

Anti-craving medications and/or nicotine replacement treatment can help you quit smoking. There are resources available to assist you in your efforts to quit smoking.

Prevention of Relapse

Develop the ability to recognize situations that could lead you back to smoking and learn new techniques to avoid it. Techniques such as; A temporary change in routine, and actively dealing with stress and mood swings amongst others would help greatly. 

Stress Management

Find healthier ways to cope with stress than smoking. Tobacco really makes your heart, kidneys, and other essential organs work harder since it raises your heart rate and blood pressure, then constricts blood vessels. Talking to a doctor would help.

What happens next?

The most important aspect is to be ready and willing to stop. By doing all you can to stop smoking, you can give yourself the most valuable gift a smoker can give to himself or herself: life, health, and self-esteem.

Treatment costs less than a pack of cigarettes per day and varies depending on the individual’s unique needs and financial situation.