Save Your Own Life! When You Quit Smoking You Reap Many Positive Benefits

The idea of giving up your beloved cigarettes may feel downright terrifying. For years it was your companion, your salvation in times of stress and crisis, your security. Add to those feelings the fact that you have been socializing with this friend anywhere from 10-50 times per day for many, many years. No wonder you are so reluctant to let it go, in spite of the rationale that you know you should.

We all want to experience things that make us feel good, or at least better than we previously felt. Some of these experiences are positive, some neutral, and there are those that are addictive and with serious consequence. Most likely, when you first began smoking, you were unaware that you were going to become addicted in the capacity that you now are. If you knew of this unspoken agreement between you and the cigarette, you would have thought twice. We all know that smoking is bad for us, but do you know what changes take place in the body once you extinguish that last cigarette?

The Benefits of Quitting:

20 minutes: Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.

8 hours: Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal.

24 hours: Carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris

48 hours: There is no nicotine left in the body. Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.

72 hours: Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.

2-12 weeks: Circulation improves.

3-9 months: Coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function is increased by up to 10%.

1 year: Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.

5 years: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.

10 years: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

(Source: US Surgeon General's Report, 1988 and US Surgeon General's Report, 1990)

Why Wait Another Day?

Delaying the decision only prolongs the process. If you want to quit, you should know that it is possible to do so. Yes, it may feel a bit strange to go through your usual motions without the cigarette, but like everything else, you will get used to it. If you want to create positive change in your life, you must leave your comfort zone. Start right now by creating a list of all the ways your health and your life could improve simply by giving up your nicotine addiction. So you may struggle and resist a bit, but aren't you worth it?

Annette Baril is a New York State Licensed Acupuncturist. To learn more about how you can stop smoking for life, go to http://www.nicocess.com/ or write to: info@nicocess.com.

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