It's NEVER too Late to Quit Smoking
My brother-in-law has quit smoking! he called me to share the news, three weeks into his newfound freedom. He's already thinking about better places to spend his money than on a pack of cigarettes.
Quitting's tough, and there is never a "good" time to quit. When people say that they are "too" anything to quit, like too nervous, too stressed, or too busy, I'll tell them that they are full of nonsense. It's just an excuse not to quit. Do they think I'm not stressed, or busy, or overwhelmed by my day sometimes? If course I am; we all are. But I don't smoke. Period. Since I used to smoke and I quit, I'm not just blowing smoke when I say these things :>)
The risks are horrible; the leading causes of death are all directly linked to smoking: cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, cancer, and emphysema. If you are in your 40's or older, you have a 3-4 times greater chance of dying in the next 10 years than your non-smoking counterparts. If you have diabetes and smoke, you may as well resign yourself to early death from cardiovascular disease, because the combination is equal to tossing an accelerant on a fire.
Most of you want to quit and many of you have tried; in fact on average an individual will have 7 quit attempts before they are finally successful for good. But every time you quit, even for a few hours, or days, or weeks, you have given yourself a gift. You have stopped sucking in poisons for that time period, and you have given your body a rest. That rest period is a chance to heal, for cells to repair themselves.
Here are some interesting facts, currently available in an article here at Web MD.
You can quit smoking, just like my brother-in-law did. If you think it's going to be hard, you're right. It is. Nothing worth having is easy to obtain, but having your life back, and more money in your pocket is worth the effort. A year from now you can look back and be proud of yourself for taking back control of your body from the addictive chemicals. You can also congratulate yourself for cutting your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease in half.
Take a deep breath -- it feels good whether or not you're inhaling that smoke...
Laurie
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: quit smoking, health and wellness, smoking cessation
Quitting's tough, and there is never a "good" time to quit. When people say that they are "too" anything to quit, like too nervous, too stressed, or too busy, I'll tell them that they are full of nonsense. It's just an excuse not to quit. Do they think I'm not stressed, or busy, or overwhelmed by my day sometimes? If course I am; we all are. But I don't smoke. Period. Since I used to smoke and I quit, I'm not just blowing smoke when I say these things :>)
The risks are horrible; the leading causes of death are all directly linked to smoking: cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, cancer, and emphysema. If you are in your 40's or older, you have a 3-4 times greater chance of dying in the next 10 years than your non-smoking counterparts. If you have diabetes and smoke, you may as well resign yourself to early death from cardiovascular disease, because the combination is equal to tossing an accelerant on a fire.
Most of you want to quit and many of you have tried; in fact on average an individual will have 7 quit attempts before they are finally successful for good. But every time you quit, even for a few hours, or days, or weeks, you have given yourself a gift. You have stopped sucking in poisons for that time period, and you have given your body a rest. That rest period is a chance to heal, for cells to repair themselves.
Here are some interesting facts, currently available in an article here at Web MD.
- Within 20 minutes after your last smoke your blood vessels begin to relax again and your blood pressure and heart rate both decline.
- Within 12 hours the level of carbon monoxide, a poison from smoking, has returned to normal. (Our bodies produce carbon dioxide as a part of normal metabolism and it is exchanged with oxygen when we breathe. The presence of carbon monoxide interferes with that exchange).
- From the moment you quit, take a shower, and change your clothes you stop smelling like an ash tray, and you gain a degree of control over your habit. You can say to yourself, "I am no longer a smoker," and mean it. Imagine how that might feel. Tobacco companies and the addictive ingredients that they place in cigarettes to keep you coming back for the next one no longer control you.
You can quit smoking, just like my brother-in-law did. If you think it's going to be hard, you're right. It is. Nothing worth having is easy to obtain, but having your life back, and more money in your pocket is worth the effort. A year from now you can look back and be proud of yourself for taking back control of your body from the addictive chemicals. You can also congratulate yourself for cutting your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease in half.
Take a deep breath -- it feels good whether or not you're inhaling that smoke...
Laurie
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: quit smoking, health and wellness, smoking cessation
11 Comments:
If I can do it,anyone can!
I smoked for 22 years and loved it...Up until about the last year.I was sick of smoking,annoyed that it controlled me and of course the price was rising ever higher.I hated spending $35 for a carton every week,but I needed it.
My wife and I tried Laser Therapy...that was 9 months,1 week,3 days,3 hours and 47 minutes ago...but who's counting?...Ok,guess I am.
I've saved $942.95 so far and added 2 weeks and 3 days to my life.I have NOT smoked 5,097 cigaretts since I quit and I feel great!I love the freedom.I jog 3-5 miles every day.Before I could not even jog 1/4 mile,and I mean that literally.I would get winded just walking up stairs.Not anymore.
How was I really able the quit? I FINALLY WANTED TO.If you don't want to quit,you never will.Sure,it's hard sometimes and there are moments that I think about how good one would taste.Then,the thought is gone as quick as it comes.Sometimes I'll go weeks without even thinking about it.Then,if I'm at a party,having a few drinks,I will think about it...for a few seconds,but then its gone again.
Quiting smoking was the best thing I ever did and to anyone else who does it,I wish you all the best.You truly feel free when you break the habit.
All the best,
Paul
I agree. There is never not a good time to stop smoking. It's amazing how much better you will feel if you quit. Even if you have been smoking your entire life. The body will take what is there and make the most out of it. I have had patients that have smoked for 20-30 years, quit and then start running marathons. Cheers to this that have the strength to pull it off and stick with it, because it's not easy.
I am 55 years old and just quit smoking 79 days ago. The trick is to get a prescription for the new drug Chantix. It is the most wonderful stuff in the world. It makes quitting so much easier and believe me, I have quit a thousand times before but never this easty
i smoked for over fifty years, and thats the gods truth. i quit cold turkey on august the 9th of 2006. i put on 20 pounds but man i have never felt better in my life. god speed to all that can quit and stay that way...
I smoked for approximately 35 years and quit a hundred times. Finally, at midnight, January 1, 2000 I finally pitched the remaining cigarettes in my pack into the trash and have never looked back. Previously, I had tried the gum, the patch, the pills. Cold turkey was the answer for me. Hard? You bet. Worthwhile? I'm having my first grandchild in September and I want to be around for him!! Best of luck to those of you thinking about quiting. You'll be so glad that you did!!
My husband and I quit smoking three days ago. We both are 25+ year smokers. Reading this board reminded me that I can start running again! That's truly exciting to me. We're at the point where we're getting on each other's nerves so this might save our marriage. LOL
I seem to be doing OK with the cravings I expect (i.e., first thing in the morning, after a meal...) it's the ones that are out of the blue that are driving me nuts.
I obtained a prescription for Chantix and after 2 months, I am not smoking and that is after 50 years of smoking - yes, I am 70 years old but, hey, if I can do it, anyone can - and I loved smoking. i still miss that morning coffee cigarette or the one with my cocktail in the evening but I'm hanging in there.
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I quit smoking 2 months ago after 22 years of smoking and loving it! I am very happy that I did this, with the help of Chantix, so don't take this next comment wrong, but I feel AWFUL!! I have read thru the msg. board and have seen no comments about this...am I the only one who seems to feeling worse (ALL OVER!!!) now then before when I was smoking? Please comment!!
My husband quit smoking 2 years ago. But last night, I found him smoking in balcony with our guest. He told me later that he was not smoking because he did not inhale it. Should I believe this comment?
I finally found someone who feels like me!!! I have quit for four months and am also glad I did----but I feel awful, also. My lings and throat still feel and taste like they did when I smoked.(only difference-so coughing) This makes it really hard to stay not smoking--when I don't feel any better. (not to mention the weight gain)
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