No matter your age, no matter your current health condition, as soon as you quit smoking you will immediately begin to experience a number of very important changes. Some are visible from the outside, while others happen unseen by the human eye, but all are significant reasons to quit smoking now.

Reason 1: You'll live longer

Taking all other causes into account, smokers are twice as likely than non-smokers to die within 15 years. When you give up cigarettes, you increase your chances of a longer and healthier life.

Reason 2: You'll reduce your risk of heart attack

Smokers are at a much higher risk of having a heart attack than people who don't smoke. When you quit, this risk drops dramatically--and immediately. In fact, within 24 hours of quitting the habit, your risk is halved.

Why? Well, nicotine (a primary component of cigarettes, as you know) has a devastating effect on the body's blood stream. It contributes to blood clots, which in turn can trigger heart attack. Therefore, when you get nicotine out of your body's system, you decrease the likelihood of blood clot formation.

Reason 3: Your Lungs Will Thank You

Smokers are much more prone to decreased lung function than non-smokers, and years of smoking wreak permanent damage on these delicate organs. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to undo that damage. But by giving up your cigarettes you will prevent further damage from occurring. Moreover, if you stay away from cigarettes for 15 or more years, your risk of developing lung cancer goes down by as much as 90%.

Reason 4: You'll Breath Easier

You know that hacking cough you've become accustomed to? It's called smoker's cough, and it got that name for a reason. This problem commonly plagues people who are active smokers--but quitters experience a rapid reduction in this annoying side effect of cigarette addiction. In fact, within a few months you'll probably have no cough at all!

Reason 5: Keep the People Around You Healthy, Too

We all know that second-hand smoke is as devastating for others as cigarettes are to those who smoke them. So all the dangers of smoking--heart disease, lung cancer, stroke--are there for nonsmokers too if they happen to be near you when you light up. Quitting the habit means that your loved ones, coworkers, and friends will also feel happier and healthier.

Still undecided about quitting?

Maybe this will help,

Smokers are twice as likely to die from heart attacks as non-smokers

Smoking also causes premature wrinkling on the skin, bad breath and smelly clothes.

Women on "the pill" have a higher risk for heart attacks, strokes and blood clots in their legs. They also increase the possibility of a miscarriage.

Based on data collected from 1995 to 1999, the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently estimated that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking

If you quit smoking you will obviously save yourself from the hazards of smoking, gain better control over your life, regain your self-esteem and feel a whole lot better about yourself. You will also be setting a good example to others, especially children, because if you smoke there is a very good chance that they too will become a smoker.

But the most important point that you should put down is that you should try and quit in order to make it healthier and safer for those who live around you especially your friends and family. Hey come on, you really owe it to them and yourself.

About the Author

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