Stop Smoking Tips

Smoking is an addiction. But then that is fairly obvious to anyone who has ever smoked more than one cigarette and then tried to quit. The addiction goes beyond the body’s craving for nicotine, which leaves the blood stream within 48 hours after smoking your last cigarette.

The addiction is pervasive. It is social and psychological in nature as well. Smokers equate a cigarette with stress reduction, weight control, oral fixations, nervous habits and social situations.

So why, when this habit seems to invade every part of a persons life, should you stop smoking? There are numerous reasons from health, to social, to psychological, to biological. And though there are many reasons here about why should I stop smoking, you’ll probably be able name 10 others that are personal to your life.

Let’s start with the physical reasons why should I stop smoking.

• Smoking affects the condition of your lungs. The bronchioles and bronchiole tree become inflamed and swollen which decreases your ability to take in adequate amounts of oxygen.
• The swollen cells secrete liquid which causes the wheezing and smokers hack and cough.
• Each cigarette contains over 100 toxic chemicals and carcinogenic chemicals that change the chemistry of your body.
• When you breath in the smoke you are also taking in carbon monoxide. This chemical takes up space on the hemoglobin that is normally taken by oxygen. By taking up this space you don’t have enough oxygen in your body and experience fatigue.

Be sure to read the rest of this series on “why should I stop smoking.”

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