There are many great reasons why it’s important to quit smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide and is associated with numerous health problems, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, and reproductive disorders. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of developing these and other serious health conditions, improve overall physical and mental health, and increase your life expectancy. It can also improve quality of life by reducing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In addition, quitting smoking can save a significant amount of money over time, cigarettes are expensive and the cost of smoking-related health care can be substantial. Ultimately, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the benefits of quitting far outweigh the challenges of giving up this addictive habit.
Here are some links to articles on reasons to quit smoking and the multiple health improvements quitting smoking has:
- https://www.paho.org/en/more-100-reasons-quit-tobacco
- https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/reasons-to-quit-smoking
- https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/benefits-of-quitting-smoking-over-time.html
By quitting smoking you can greatly reduce your chances of serious tobacco related health problems of yourself and those around you, and you can live a longer and healthier life. It’s important to find a program or resource that works best for you and your needs. Quit smoking today, you owe it to yourself to live happily and healthy!
If you are in need of help with treatment for smoking here are some resources that may be of value to you:
- English: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or www.smokefree.gov
- Spanish: 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) or espanol.smokefree.gov
- American Heart Association: 1-800-AHA-USA1 or www.heart.org
- American Cancer Society: 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345) or www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco
- American Lung Association: 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or www.lung.org/stop-smoking
- National Cancer Institute: 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) or www.smokefree.gov
Check with your local hospital for smoking cessation programs as well, they may offer programs to help you with quitting smoking, and insurance may help with covering the cost.
