Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. Every year, it kills more than six million people. If that’s not reason enough to quit smoking, then what is? Here are more reasons why you should quit smoking today.
Smoking Causes Cancer
One of the most well-known effects of smoking is that it increases your risk of cancer. Smoking is responsible for about one in five cancer deaths in the United States. Cigarette smoke contains more than 70 known carcinogens, including metals, chemicals, and radioactive materials. These substances damage DNA and cause cells to grow abnormally.
Smoking also increases your risk of other types of cancer, including lung, throat, stomach, and bladder cancer. And the longer you smoke, the greater your risk becomes. Smoking alternatives like vape pens are not a safer option, either. These products also contain cancer-causing chemicals. Quitting smoking is the best way to reduce your risk of cancer. If you’re not ready to quit, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk.
Smoking Increases Your Risk of Heart Attack
Another reason to quit smoking is for your heart health. Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, smokers are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack than nonsmokers, and smoking is responsible for about one-third of all deaths from coronary heart disease. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart health.
Smoking also damages blood vessels and raises your risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD narrows arteries in the legs and feet, which can cause pain when walking and make it difficult to heal wounds.
Smoking Can Damage Your Lungs
Since cigarettes contain nicotine, smoking them can damage your lungs. Nicotine is a substance that’s present in tobacco leaves. It’s also known to be addictive and potentially harmful. When you smoke cigarettes, the nicotine in the tobacco is absorbed into your bloodstream through your lungs. Your lungs are then exposed to the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke, damaging them over time.
Smoking is also known to increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks to your health to make an informed decision about whether or not to quit.
Smoking Makes You Look Old
Most smokers start smoking in their teens. By the time they reach middle age, many smokers have deep wrinkles around their mouths from years of pursing their lips to hold a cigarette.
Smoking also dries out your skin, giving you an unhealthy pallor and contributing to wrinkles. And the chemicals in cigarettes damage collagen and elastin, proteins that give your skin its elasticity. If you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do.
Although the long-term effects of smoking are well known, many people continue to smoke. Today is a great day to quit smoking for good and start down the path to better health.
