Smoking is like a death sentence hanging over the head of 1.8 million Australians.
A study by BMC shows that people who smoke 10 cigarettes a day are more likely to die a premature death than non-smokers.
If you are a smoker and want to quit smoking, here are 10 more reasons why you should do so.
1. Lung cancer
Quit smoking now or risk getting lung cancer. Lung cancer is the 5th most diagnosed cancer disease in Australia. In 2014 it was the most common cause of death in Australia and will remain so this year according to Cancer Australia. Smoking contributes to 84% of new lung cancers in men and 77% in women in Australia.
2. Heart disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the disease associated with all the processes of the heart and blood vessels. Smoking contributes to CVD in several ways. Toxins produced by nicotine and carbon monoxide can narrow the arteries, interfere with platelets and increase heart rate and blood pressure. Quit smoking and you will reduce your chance of having a stroke or a heart attack.
3. Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you will seriously want to consider quitting smoking as smoking can increase your blood sugar level and makes it more difficult for you to regulate it.
4. Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Smoking damages blood vessels and ED is a result of insufficient blood flow. Fortunately, if you quit smoking, your vascular health will improve and so will your sexual health and performance.
5. Vision
Smoking puts you at risk of developing a host of degenerative eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, AMD (age-related macular degeneration), diabetic retina retinopathy (reduced blood flow) and dry eyes.
6. Hearing loss
There’s a whopping 70% chance that a smoker will develop hearing loss. When you smoke you are inhaling a cocktail of poisons including nicotine, formaldehyde, ammonia, arsenic and hydrogen cyanide. These ‘ototoxic’ poisons severely impair hearing, causing tinnitus and affecting balance. Quit smoking if you don’t want to go deaf eventually.
7. Second-hand smoke (SHS)
SHS is a killer.
SHS smoke comes from the burning end of a cigarette and from the smoke breathed out by the smoker. SHS contains 4,000 toxins with up to 70 of them likely to cause cancer.
8. Loss of years of life
If you don’t quit smoking you could shave 10 years off your life. Because smoking is related to so many fatal illnesses and diseases you may be deliberately shortening your life.
9. Money
Smoking is a costly habit. Tax on cigarettes has risen 64% in the last five years and will continue to rise as the Australian government continues its efforts to discourage smoking.
The price of a box of cigarettes is anticipated to rise from an average of $25 to nearly $40 by 2020.
10. Family
SHS can increase the risk of smoking-related diseases and illnesses. So the next time you light up in front of your baby or your aged parent, you may want to consider they are breathing in 7000 poisons because of you.
Want to quit?
Hypnotherapy could help you. Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness and is an effective way to treat physical or psychological problems.
When you are hypnotised you relax and can focus more on why you should quit smoking.