| Most people know that smoking is bad for them but | | | | far into the future for you to worry about. If you not |
| many don't really understand just how bad it is. They | | | | heed the advice and give up now though, you will |
| know there are health risks but they push them to the | | | | surely regret it in the future. |
| back of their minds. If you are a smoker thinking, "well | | | | If you need good reasons to stop smoking right now |
| you've got to die of something haven't you" or "it won't | | | | then there are both social and financial reasons that |
| happen to me" then you really should consider the | | | | can affect you right now. Financially you can be |
| facts and reasons to stop smoking. | | | | surprisingly better off if you don't buy cigarettes. Most |
| A regular smoker is likely to have their life expectancy | | | | smokers, like most drinkers, seriously underestimate |
| reduced by up to ten years. Do you really want to lose | | | | the amount of money they spend on the habit. If you |
| ten years of your life when you don't have to? | | | | put aside the money you would have spent and save |
| Coupled with this is the likely prospect that the latter | | | | it for two to three months, you could have a sizeable |
| few years of your life if you are a regular smoker are | | | | sum - enough to buy a new bike or an Armani suit |
| likely to be of poor quality due to some heart or lung | | | | probably! Your lifestyle would have improved as, not |
| disease that could have been avoided. | | | | only will you be feeing more fit and healthy but you will |
| The adverse effects on one's health through smoking | | | | have more money in your pocket. |
| are manifest in the lungs, the blood circulatory system | | | | Smoking is generally becoming less and less socially |
| and the heart. In the lungs the constant irritation of | | | | acceptable. It is now banned in many public places |
| inhaled smoke causes damage leading to reduced lung | | | | including even pubs, once the safe haven for the |
| capacity and bronchitis. The lining of the airways tends | | | | inveterate smoker. You will not find ash trays in |
| to lose its cilia, the little hair-like protuberances which | | | | restaurants so much these days, let alone the |
| help to clear them of mucous and contaminants so | | | | workplace. You will feel like an outcast if you have to |
| that infection in the lungs becomes more likely. Older | | | | excuse yourself from a social gathering to nip out the |
| people who are regular smokers are more likely to | | | | back for a quick cigarette. |
| succumb to a bout of flu and a secondary infection | | | | The anti-social aspect of smoking is heightened by the |
| because of damaged lungs. | | | | now recognised threat of passive smoking. People just |
| The effect of nicotine on the blood vessels is to | | | | don't want to near smokers, especially in confined |
| constrict them, and, since the small blood vessels that | | | | spaces and this has to be respected. |
| supply blood to the heart, are all ready narrow and | | | | A smoker on a date should be aware of the possible |
| may have been further narrowed by a build up of | | | | consequences of bad breath or stained fingers from |
| plaque (atherosclerosis) which is very common, the | | | | smoking. Along with hair and fingernails these are |
| last thing you need is further narrowing and restriction | | | | things that women tend to notice. |
| of blood flow. Such further restriction can easily lead to | | | | There are then, very good reasons to stop smoking. |
| arterial blockage and a heart attack. | | | | Quitting now will save you money, make you more |
| These serious health risks should be enough in | | | | socially successful and allow you to live longer. You |
| themselves to persuade you to give up smoking but if | | | | know the reasons to quit- you must now make the |
| you are young you may dismiss all this as being too | | | | decision to quit. |