122 REASONS TO STOP SMOKING

Hi everyone! My study of smoking continues… Here are 122 Reasons to Stop Smoking! Go ahead and highlight the points important to you…

Legal disclaimer

While there are many more reasons to quit smoking, here is a list of 121 reasons – all of which make sense, and have been proven by research and statistics. The reasons include personal, emotional, health, social and economic facts.

While the publisher has strived to ensure the factual correctness of all this information, it does not constitute – nor is it intended – to replace any medical advice. If in any doubt, please consult with your doctor.

So here goes…

 SMELL

1. Smoking diminishes your sense of smell.
2. As such, you cannot appreciate simple things like the smell of freshly baked pancakes, or the clean smell after a thunderstorm.
3. As such, you don’t know exactly how bad your ashtray smells to others.
4. Smoking makes your clothes smell.
5. Smoking makes your car smell, and devalues it upon trading it in.

YOU HOME

6. Smoking makes you home smell.
7. Over time, smoking discolours the walls of your home, devaluating it.
8. Since you are holding a burning item, you have to be careful to not burn your clothes, bedding, furniture…
9. Smokers’ homes are more than six times as likely to catch fire (than non-smokers).

TASTE

10. Smoking diminishes your sense of taste.
11. As such, you cannot fully appreciate the taste sensations of exotic dishes.

SLEEP  

12. Smokers are four times more likely to feel un-rested after sleeping.
13. Smoking makes you feel yech when waking up.
14. Smokers snore more.

UNPOPULAR

15. Smoking causes a frequent, irritating cough.
16. Smoking is becoming less acceptable socially – it is NOT cool to smoke any more.
17. Smokers are less likely to get a date (according to statistics from online dating sites)
18. More and more venues are becoming exclusive to non-smokers.
19. Smokers sometimes have difficulty finding accommodation – since many owners prefer non-smokers.
20. Legislation is making it more and more difficult for smokers to continue their habits.
21. For instance – you are legally no longer allowed to smoke in your home or car with a child in your company.
22. When going to a restaurant with non-smokers, it is awkward to decide who has to compromise, and find seating in the other’s section.
23. Your family worries about you and keep nagging you..
24. You mother told you long ago not to..
25. Non-smokers are always a pain in the neck.
26. Smoking can cause tension at home if your partner does not smoke.
27. Smoking dulls your sense of touch.

2^ND HAND SMOKE  

28. More and more people are distancing themselves from smokers because they fear the effects of second hand smoke.
29. Second hand smoke has been linked to lung cancer in pets (even birds).
30. Smokers’ children are more likely to suffer from tooth decay.
31. Smoking poses health risks to others inhaling second hand smoke.

MONEY

32. It is a MASSIVE waste of money. Just think of how much money you could have made if you paid a policy with the money spent on smoking each month – for your entire adult life.
33. All the special taxes imposed on cigarettes make it ridiculously expensive.
34. Smokers pay more for life insurance.
35. People “borrow” your lighters and never return them (“accidentally” putting them in their own shirt pockets/purses.
36. Other smokers bum off you – and you just pay to keep their habits up.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

37. Smoking limits your lifestyle – since you are not physically capable of indulging in everything you would want to.
38. Long church sermons and meetings can become strenuous if you have to go without a smoke for too long…
39. How much of your own time do you waste every day – because of having to stop and smoke every so often?
40.  YOU are NOT in control of YOUR LIFE. If you cannot decide NOT to smoke for a day or three, you are being controlled by that little cardboard box in your pocket or handbag…

YOUR JOB

41. If you smoke in working time, you are wasting some of the money your employer is paying you.
42. As such, non-smokers are preferred by many companies – since they lose fewer man-hours due to smoking breaks.
43. It is unfair to your non-smoking colleagues – since they do not get breaks like you regularly do.
44. Smoking can cause tension at work – with non-smoking colleagues.
45. Statistically, smokers require more sick leave from work than non-smokers.

PSYCOLOGICAL

46. Smoking causes mood swings if not repeated frequently.
47. Smokers are generally more irritable.
48. Smoking makes PMS worse…
49. Smoking increases the risk of depression.
50. Smokers are more likely to suffer from anxiety or stress.
51. Smoking affects your personality for the worse.
52. When stressed out, smokers simply light a cigarette – pretty much like someone else would take a calming tablet, or an alcoholic would run for a drink – instead of dealing with the issue.
53. Smoking is ridiculous – You set something on fire, and then put it in your mouth. If you did it with any other (legal) item than a cigarette, it would be considered insane.

YOUTH SMOKING

54. Smoking before the brain is matured (at around eighteen years of age) slows down its development.
55. Smoking increases the risk of depression in young people.
56. Smoking serves as a starting point for many drug additions. Statistically, teens who smoke are seven times more prone to becoming involved with other drugs.
57. As a smoker, you cannot set an example for your kids not to smoke.

SMOKING DEPENDANCY

58. As such, it is a substance dependency – frighteningly similar to over-eating, alcoholism, and drug dependency. While the physical effects are not as obviously devastating, the pattern of behaviour, and poor success rate of quitters are similar.
59. Smoking serves as a starting point for many drug additions. Statistically, teens who smoke are seven times more prone to becoming involved with other drugs.
60. If you stop smoking, you have two items fewer to carry around, or remember to take along.
61. If you run out, or leave you cigarettes somewhere, you HAVE to get some more…

ILLNESSES AND DEATH

62. Smoking speeds up mental decline – increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s or Dementia
63. Smoking increases the risk of a stroke.
64. Smoking increases the risk of heart problems.
65. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.
66. Smoking increases the risk of oral cancer.
67. Smoking increases the risk of emphysema.
68. Smoking shortens your life expectancy.
69. Smoking increases the risk of LUPUS – an auto-immune disease.
70.  If you are genetically susceptible to developing arthritis, smoking can increase the likelihood of getting it.
71. Smokers are 70% more likely to get heartburn and acid reflux.
72. Smoking causes increased risk of breast cancer in women.
73. Smoking has been linked to colon cancer.
74. Smoking has been linked to thyroid disease.
75. The progression from HIV to AIDS is faster for smokers than non-smokers.
76. Smokers are 4 times as likely to develop Crohn’s disease.
77. Smokers are more likely to develop brain tumors (lung cancer is known to commonly spread to the brain)
78. Smoking accounts for 90% of all deaths related to chronic obstructive lung disease.
79. Smokers have a 44% higher risk of developing diabetes.
80. Smoking puts you at increased risk of pneumonia and bronchitis.
81. Smokers face three times as much rick of developing cataracts.
82. Smokers are three times more likely to develop middle ear infection
83. Smokers face a higher risk of post-operative complications.
84. It interferes with the absorption of various medications, necessitating higher dosages (which in turn increase the risk of unwanted side effects).
85. One out of every five deaths in the USA is directly related to smoking.
86. In the USA, smoking annually causes more deaths than murders, drugs, alcohol, and suicide combined.
87. Smoking can cause accidents – when you drop a burning cigarette while driving.
88. Smoking can also cause accidents while driving due to your attention being distracted while lighting a cigarette
89. Because – as you can see – you are slowly killing yourself, and preparing to die in extreme discomfort…

OTHER HEALTH DEGENERATION

90.  Smoking increases the risk of blindness – by increasing the risk of age related macular degeneration.
91. Smoking gradually decreases your bone density – resulting in risk of injury at old age.
92. Smokers have 70% more likelihood of developing hearing loss.
93. Smokers generally have poorer blood circulation.
94. Smokers’ wounds heal slower.
95. Smokers face an increased risk of back pain.
96. Heavy smokers are more likely to develop psoriasis
97. Smoking can advance menopause by several years.
98. Smoking depletes your Vitamin C from your system faster than naturally.
99. Smoking diminishes your IQ.
100. Smokers’ bodies work caffeine off faster – so they fail to get the same benefit from a cup of coffee in the morning as their non-smoking counterparts do.

YOUR APPEARANCE

101. Smoking stains your teeth.
102. Smoking stains our fingers.
103. If you smoke for longer than 10 years, smoking speeds up skin aging.
104. Smoking affects skin tone and texture.
105. Smokers are more likely to go grey prematurely.
106. Smokers are twice as likely to go bald.
107. Smoking increases the risk of dental problems and gum diseases.
108. Smoking causes bad breath.

SEXUALITY AND PREGNANCY

109. Smoking increases the risk of impotence, and lowers the libido.
110. Pregnant women who smoke put their babies at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
111. Smoking can cause your baby to develop colic and be irritable (Smoking increases the production of the hormone Motilin – which cause contractions in the abdominal area)
112. Smokers have a lower sperm count – and are thus less fertile.
113. Smoking during pregnancy causes addiction in babies – who then have to go through withdrawal symptoms right after birth…
114. Smoking women find it more difficult to get pregnant.
115. Pregnant women who smoke have more chance of running into complications.
116. Pregnant women who smoke have more chance of delivering prematurely, and giving birth to underweight babies.
117. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to miscarry.
118. Pregnant women who smoke are 30% more likely to give birth to a stillborn child, or losing her baby within the first week after birth.
119. Smokers treble the risk of cot deaths in their young babies.
120. Pregnant women who smoke deliver a lower quality mother’s milk.
121. Women who smoke while taking “the pill” are at a 20 times higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke or blood clots

WHY STOP??

122. Because YOU are worth it.

WHEN YOU QUIT SMOKING

After 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal.

After 24 hours your lungs start to clear.

After two days the nicotine in your body starts diminishing, and your sense of taste and smell improve.

After three days you can breathe more easily, and your energy increases.

After two to 12 weeks, your circulation improves.

After three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing improves.

After one year your heart attack risk is half that of a smoker.

After 10 years your lung cancer risk is half that of a smoker.

So….

As Bob Proctor (life coach) recently said…

The SECOND BEST Time is NOW

Have you had enough?

Have you had enough of the inconveniences, the side effects, the money drain, the health risks…

But MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Have you had enough of NOT being in control of your own life?

Na al hierdie redes begin ek wonder hoekom ‘n mens so onnosel is om te rook!