What Are the Benefits of Smoking Cessation
It’s widely known that smoking cigarettes is harmful, not only to your lungs but also to your heart, skin, teeth, and overall health. For non-smokers, it may be difficult to understand why so many people, an estimated 1.3 billion globally, continue to smoke regularly. It’s simply because nicotine is highly addictive, and quitting can seem impossible. However, once achieved, the benefits of living smoke-free are immense, and contrary to popular belief, it’s never too late to quit.
Keep reading if you’re interested in finding out why smoking is so addictive and what makes it so hard to give up this unhealthy habit. Additionally, you will learn about the specific benefits of smoking cessation, as well as some practical methods that can help you achieve this goal.
Why Smoking is so Addictive
The chemical compound nicotine is the main driver behind this persistent addiction. As a stimulant drug, it prompts the release of dopamine in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and reward. Although these positive feelings set in almost immediately after inhaling cigarette smoke, the effects wear off quickly. People addicted to nicotine soon crave another cigarette and, depending on the severity of their dependence, will smoke repeatedly throughout the day to avoid typical withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, restlessness, and anxiety.
In addition to chemical nicotine dependence, the way smoking becomes an integral part of a smoker’s daily routines and coping strategies, such as coffee breaks, driving, or managing increased stress at work, also plays an essential role. Quitting can be particularly difficult if your family or close friends smoke, or when you’re in environments or situations often associated with smoking, such as bars or while drinking alcohol. All these factors make smoking cessation challenging and cause many people to relapse. However, if you're determined to stop, don’t let this discourage you. Instead, see it as a step toward discovering what works for you and getting closer to finally quitting.
What Are the Benefits of Smoking Cessation?
For some people, hearing about the many significant benefits of smoking cessation may boost their motivation and willpower to pull through the physical and mental discomfort of giving up smoking. While some benefits are immediate, others take a while to set in. Only hours after your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop to a normal level. Quitting smoking also reduces coughing over time and makes breathing and, therefore, engaging in physical activity easier. Additionally, the sense of taste and smell often improves, as does fertility, and the risk of erectile dysfunction decreases through increased blood flow. Many people also observe younger-looking skin that heals faster.
Over time, quitting smoking can significantly increase your chances of leading a long and healthy life since it lowers your chances of smoking-related illnesses like heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and COPD.
Besides the positive changes you can observe in your body, quitting smoking can help you save money on cigarettes and protect your loved ones from second-hand cigarette smoke.
Effective Methods to Quit Smoking
Many people use nicotine replacement therapy like Nicorette Gum, Inhalator, or Nasal Spray to make smoking cessation easier by reducing withdrawal symptoms. Similar effects can be achieved when taking prescription medications, such as Chantix and Zyban. They not only reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms but also block the effects of nicotine, which prevents you from feeling rewarded when smoking. Both methods are most effective when paired with behavioural therapy, counselling, or support groups.
While additional options to help you quit smoking are available, their effectiveness is often limited and can be highly individual. Among these methods are hypnosis, acupuncture, herbal remedies, mobile apps, and other digital tools. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, and avoiding smoking triggers can support your efforts and help you experience the benefits of smoking cessation.
