20 Reasons to Quit Smoking
20 Reasons to Quit Smoking
Courtesy of Health.com
Most people try to quit smoking a few times before they finally succeed. Therefore, failing is not failure-it's practice. Keep at it: Studies have shown that some combination of drugs, stop-smoking aids, counseling, support, and changes of habit can work for you. If you (or your loved ones) need more motivation, here are 20 reasons why you should quit today.
1. You won't have to pay more and more and more and more each year.
Yup, taxes will almost certainly continue to go up. New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut are among the states leaning harder on smokers for revenue, but even some tobacco-growing states are beginning to milk the coffin-nail cash cow. Lawmakers' reasoning: There is evidence that price increases cause smokers to reduce consumption. And the medical costs of smoking are astronomical-a huge burden to the states.
2. Really, if you think cigarette prices can't go up much more, you've got Wall Street against you as well as the government.
Addiction-to oil, tobacco, etc.-is a very good thing to bank on. Many on Wall Street remain bullish about Big Tobacco's ability to jack up prices, even if sales drop because of tax increases.
3. The Pill suddenly becomes a lot safer to use.
If you're on the Pill and smoke, you should cut out one or the other. The Pill is not recommended for smokers because oral contraceptives carry a risk of clots, heart attacks, and strokes; those risks are increased if you smoke.
4. You'll be less wrinkly.
After 10 years, smoking can speed up your skin's aging process by narrowing your skin's blood vessels and damaging the tissues that give the skin its strength and elasticity.
5. Eat less.
(Despite muting the taste buds, smoking brings food cravings of its own.) Smoking increases food cravings in women, particularly for starchy carbohydrates and high-fat foods.
6. Keep your walls the color you painted them.
Cigarette smoke creates persistent yellow stains on painted walls that take a concentrated effort to remove.
7. Reduce the premature need for expensive hair treatments.
Smokers are three to six times more likely to go prematurely gray than nonsmokers.
8. Protect Fido and Fluffy.
A number of studies show that secondhand smoke at home may be associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, and lung cancer in birds.
9. Use the cigarette lighter for a higher purpose: Keep your kids from fighting in the car.
Most portable appliances, including iPods and personal DVD players, plug in to the cigarette lighter in your car via an adapter. Chuck the lighter and deploy the power source to keep the kids entertained with movies or music.
Recent Comments
LooneyTunes11316 06:28:36 PM Aug 28 2008
Sure there are PLENTY of reasons out there to stop smoking (notice I don't say 'quit')... My doctor attributes the onset of perimenopause (early menopause) directly to the hormones that are found in milk, meat, and other food/drink products we consume. He also attributes the onset of early menses to the same hormones that are found in milk, meat, and other food/drink products humans consume.
Laffinboy71 12:54:08 AM Aug 28 2008
im trying to quit and its hard but going to bed at night and not feeling like i have a concreate block on my chest is good but i still believe in smokers rights evey time they rase taxes to pay for politicans bad habits i think the self ritchous should have to pay for the welfair of the peope they put out of work by cring how unfair it is
Ryzix 12:32:08 AM Aug 28 2008
If you've noticed the majority of these reasons were to woman. I am a man, so I don't think I'll have to worry about the pill or menopause lol. Come to think of it all of 'em weren't directly focused on men! The closest one I think, was the gray hair, and even that wasn't focused on men! ...so it's safer for men to smoke. Stop smoking ladies! lol
DIEHARD31575 11:14:51 PM Aug 27 2008
Dammit...I was going to quit smoking tonight but after reading the freaking article I changed my mind. Aside from my wish that cigarettes were free I am not "scared straight". Whatever....lights another cigarette.....mmmm
lvlyjess 11:13:28 PM Aug 27 2008
Why is everybody in such denial smoking is bad for you and in the long run you will realize it will ruin and is ruining your life well as for those that dont smoke please don't even try it
dubyasgrammarian 09:10:30 PM Aug 27 2008
Everytime I want to light up a cig, I'll just fix a hot dog instead!
Undrgrndgirl 09:02:50 PM Aug 27 2008
advances menopause by several years !! WOO HOO i call that a reason NOT to quit!
PimProvising 09:02:16 PM Aug 27 2008
i just wanted to leave a comment so i could be in the same catagory as the last three.........RIGHT ON MY FELLOW RETARDED SHEEP!!! RIGHT ON!!
KPSHARPEWORKS 08:56:27 PM Aug 27 2008
Even the doctors I work with smoke and as surgeons I know they've seen diseased lungs before. Stop lecturing us, and plugging all those nicotine filled supposed to be stop smoking aids such as gum, patches, pills, etc. I'll stop when I get tired of walking a mile to pick up a pack of cigs for $2 less than I pay in NYC. $10 is ridiculous.
