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It’s been well documented for many years now that smoking causes a number of terrible diseases in both smokers and those who suffer from second hand smoke, and while many people try each year to kick the habit, it is no easy feat. Luckily, there have been some serious medical and technological developments in the way smokers can fight their urges, the most recent being the creation of the electronic cigarette. So why is now the best time for you to quit smoking? Well, here are just a few important reasons.
Your Health
The ultimate thing you’re saving when you quit smoking is your health, and while some might believe the positive effects will not be seen until far in the future, they actually begin a mere 20 minutes after you finish your final cigarette. 20 minutes after you stop smoking your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature in your hands and feet return to normal, and a mere 12 hours later your blood-oxygen level and your carbon monoxide levels have also returned to normal. The long-term positive effects are by far the most important ones, however, as 5-15 years down the line your risk of stroke has returned to that of a non-smoker, and 15 years later your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a person who has never smoked.
The Health of Those Around You
While you might be okay accepting the consequences of your own actions, the negative impact that smoking has on those around you should be a major motivator to quit. Second hand smoke, or passive smoking, has been shown to increase a person’s chance of lung cancer by a quarter, meaning that family and friends who inhale your second hand smoke are 25% more likely to end-up with lung cancer.
Lose the Smoker’s Smell and Look
For non-smokers it is never hard to spot a smoker, as the scent of tobacco is always present in their hair or clothes, and their teeth and fingers tend to have a jaundiced look to them. Because smokers live with this smell and the slightly yellowish look, they tend not to notice it, but after quitting you’ll quickly find that others will look at you in a new light.
I stopped buying cigarettes 3 years ago and switched to ecigs. I am so much healthier and happier. My doctor even gave his approval!