Despite the dangers of smoking, many people continue to discount the unanimous warnings of health care professionals and puff away - often to the detriment of their health. The truth is it’s hard to stop smoking even though you may know it’s bad for you. You may even have told yourself that it’s impossible to stop smoking.
v
The statistics on smoking are frightening. Did you know that 80% of smokers start before the age of 21? Or that one in five high school seniors smoke on a daily basis and 70% have tried cigarettes at least once? And the scariest statistic of all? - 3000 teenagers start smoking each day!
The good news is that while the rates at which people start smoking are not decreasing, the number of people quitting each year are. If you are thinking of joining the ranks of these smoke-free individuals and have decided that it’s time top choose health and stop smoking, read on to find out ways in which you can make giving up the bad stuff a little easier on yourself (and your family!)
People smoke for many different reasons including stress relief, life problems, peer pressure, family background or parental modeling or a personality that ends towards high-risk behaviors but whatever the reason the important thing now is to understand the reasons why you wish to STOP!
Start by making a list of all the negative aspects of smoking including those on your health, budget and non-smoking family members and pets. It might look something like this:
* Increased cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease (among many others including impotence in men and low birth weights in women who smoke while pregnant)
* Less money to save or spend on the things you need or enjoy
* Negative effects on those around you, including on their health
* Increased environmental pollution and damage
Next concentrate on the positive aspects that will come into play if you stop smoking:
* Increased fitness and decreased disease risk
* Extra money to save or spend
* A healthier family or pets
* Decreased damage to the environment
Right, now let’s get down to the nitty gritty and learn some methods that will help you stop smoking and stick to it.
