It’s Time to Put That Cigarette Out

If you’re currently a smoker, you’re probably already aware of the health risks associated with tobacco use. If you also work in healthcare, you likely know of the smoking-cessation resources available to you as well. What you probably don’t know, however, is that there’s a special day dedicated to people just like you: No Smoking Day. Since 1984, this annual health-awareness day has taken place in the United Kingdom on every second Wednesday in March. This year, No Smoking Day will take place on March 9^th. Here are a few of the reasons why you should make March 9^th the day that you put that cigarette out for good:

Reasons to Quit Smoking

There Are Countless Health Risks

Lung cancer and heart disease are two of the most widely known health risks associated with smoking, but they certainly aren’t the only ones. For instance, did you know that smoking has been linked with hair loss? Smoking has also been linked to a whole host of other serious health issues, including gum disease, peripheral vascular disease, and blindness. If you’re looking for more motivation to help you quit, take some time to learn more about the various health problems that smoking can cause, and if you’re not too squeamish, try looking at pictures showing the detrimental effects of long-term smoking on the human body.

It’s an Expensive Habit

Smoking was never a cheap habit, and the rising state and federal taxes on cigarettes continue to increase the cost of smoking. In 2015, $5.51 was the average price for a pack of cigarettes in the United States. Assuming that you smoke at least 4 packs per week, your monthly spending on cigarettes would be nearly $90 if you’re paying the national average per pack. Over the course of a year, you’d end up spending more than $1,000 on cigarettes alone. Since the majority of states charge between $6 and $8 per pack, there’s a good chance that you’re spending even more than our yearly estimate. Think about everything you could do with the money you’d save by quitting!

You’ll Start Feeling Better

Even if you’ve been a smoker for years, it’s not too late to quit smoking and start feeling good again. In fact, if you quit smoking before age 35, research shows that you’ll live as a long as a nonsmoker. Also, in addition to enjoying countless long-term health benefits by quitting smoking now, you’ll start feeling better almost immediately. For example, the mucus and tar that have accumulated in your lungs will start to clear out once you’ve gone an entire day without a cigarette. Within two days, your sense of smell and taste will noticeably improve. Those are just a couple of the many health benefits you’ll notice soon after quitting. Check out this page to find out how your health will improve in the months following your last cigarette.

Resources to Help You Quit

Unfortunately, no matter how many reasons you have to quit smoking, the process is never easy. However, with the right help and a strong will, your success is guaranteed. Here are a couple of great resources to start with:

The Official No Smoking Day Website

Check out the official website for No Smoking Day; it features a nice mix of motivation, information, and support. Reading through a few of the success stories on the site is a great way to stay motivated through the process of quitting. The health-related information posted on the site is great to read through when you need a strong reminder of the reasons you need to quit smoking sooner rather than later. Finally, the No Smoking Day forum is the perfect place to get support from people who are going through the same struggle to kick the habit.

smokefree.gov

Created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute, smokefree.gov features plenty of excellent information, professional assistance, and more. It even offers specialized support for veterans, women, teens, and Spanish speakers. Some of the site’s more unique resources, which include a chat service and a text-message service, are definitely worth checking out.

Tell Your Story

If you’re currently trying to quit smoking, we’d love to learn more about your motivations for doing so. Please leave a comment below and share your story with us and our readers. If you used to smoke and managed to quit, be sure to leave some helpful tips so that the people reading this post have something extra to help them achieve and maintain a smoke-free lifestyle!