15 Benefits of Quitting Smoking: Reasons to Quit Tobacco

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

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

Although it is difficult and at first some anxiety usually appears, 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 Perks of stop smoking

Smoking: brief definition

Before starting to name the various benefits of quitting tobacco, 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, nicotine This dependence comes from a progressive habituation to nicotine, the body having become accustomed to nicotine and requiring increasingly greater amounts of tobacco to notice the same effects and a series of physiological symptoms appearing (for example anxiety).

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

As we mentioned in the introduction, it is linked to a decrease in life expectancy, It is usually behind the vast majority of COPD cases and influences other respiratory diseases, makes the 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, along with other factors (the fact that it can also affect passive smokers such as children, financial expense or the lesser ability to maintain physical effort, for example) makes many try to quit, although cessation of consumption usually occurs. generate withdrawal symptoms such as desire to consume, anxiety and irritability.

Quitting tobacco: benefits of cessation of consumption

Know the advantages that quitting has for a smoker, mainly related to the cessation or reduction of the risks or effects of tobacco consumption, can contribute to viewing the objective as something desirable. It is important to keep in mind that these benefits may not be experienced in some cases, where problems have already appeared that will be permanent.

Below we will see 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, given that it appears within twenty minutes of non-consumption. An improvement in lung capacity and circulation is also observed during the first month, and in both cases the improvement increases over time until reaching normality.

2. Life expectancy is gradually returning to normal

Compared to a non-smoker, someone with a tobacco addiction reduces their life expectancy depending on their consumption and how long ago they started doing so. Specifically, Quitting before the age of 30 usually implies a life expectancy ten years longer than those who continue doing it while in their forties the average would be nine, in their fifties it would be six, and in their sixties it would be three.

3. The risk of cancer is reduced

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

4. Lung capacity is recovered

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

Little by little, the typical bronchitis and wheezing are reduced (although at the beginning of quitting tobacco you usually cough more than before as the body tries to expel the mucus from the lungs), in addition to increase the amount of time you can sustain physical exercise Fatigue usually decreases after the first month, in line with the progressive recovery of said 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 reduce 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 coronary problems is already similar to that of a non-smoker.

In the same way, the probability of stroke is reduced to normal (in a period that may range between five or ten years to arrive, depending on each case). It also reduces the risk of repeated coronary events.

6. Improves the immune system: lower probability of getting sick

As a general rule, it has been observed that smokers tend to get sick more often than those who do not, and can, for example, catch various infections more easily. And it is that tobacco worsens the functioning of the immune system As time passes without the ex-smoker consuming, the capacity of said system to defend itself against attacks and harmful elements will increase again to normal.

7. Smell and taste return to normal

One of the alterations that those who smoke are probably aware of is the fact that little by little they will lose faculties in relation to olfactory and gustatory perception, given that the nervous system will lose functionality with consumption. Fortunately, With a few days of abstinence, these senses return to normal functioning

8. Reduces the likelihood of injuries, bone breaks and muscle problems

Although it may not be well known, the truth is that it has been observed that smokers have a greater tendency to suffer fractures and bone breaks or muscle injuries, and in turn they usually take longer to recover. The same occurs with surgical injuries. Quitting smoking may not recover damaged structures, but it can return them to normal. the rate of tissue recovery

9. Less dizziness and headaches

Although it does not occur in all people, it is not uncommon for very habitual smokers to suffer from dizziness and headaches caused by the narrowing and increased fragility of the blood vessels in the brain, as well as by the lower amount of oxygen that reaches the brain. this.

Those who quit smoking are likely to initially experience an increase in these symptoms, but depending on oxygen levels reaching the brain are improved These problems will be progressively reduced.

10. Contributes to improving sexuality

It is 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 normal erectile capacity (although it will depend on each case). And not only in the erection itself, but the desire and satisfaction achieved during intercourse is also greater in both sexes as it is not blood flow and oxygenation of erogenous zones hindered by the vasoconstrictive effects of nicotine.

11. Promotes fertility

Another possible effect of tobacco is the worsening and loss of quality of semen and sperm, making it difficult to have children. In addition, in the case 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 premature aging of the skin. The teeth are also affected, favoring the arrival of problems such as tartar and pyorrhea and discoloring the teeth. Although in this sense the problems that have already appeared do not usually disappear (although the skin’s shine and elasticity usually recover), quitting smoking will prevent them from worsening.

13. An effect on the economy

Although it is not a direct effect on health, quitting smoking also means the cessation of a habitual and constant expense, in addition to increasingly higher (as the price increases).

14. Strengthening self-esteem and self-efficacy

Giving up an addiction like tobacco 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. Being successful when it comes to quitting, therefore, requires perseverance and strength that, if the final objective is achieved, can foster an improvement in one’s own self-esteem and confidence in one’s own possibilities.

15. Benefits for others

Not only is one’s own health favored by stopping smoking, but the usual close environment will also be less likely to suffer from some health problems resulting from passive smoking