Smoking Cessation

Are You Serious About Smoking Cessation?

Let’s have a show of hands from everyone determined to quit smoking and make it a permanent part of their lives this time!

Sadly, when you look at the statistics of people trying to quit smoking, it seems a formidable task to take on, however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t even try. We all know the dangers smokers face; we are shown the risks to our health from a very young age. Yet, everywhere you look there are young people puffing away as if these dangers don’t apply to them.

We have to accept for most people, Smoking Cessation is a seriously tough challenge.

The success rate for smokers attempting to quit varies, but the available data suggests that it is generally low. Here are some statistics:

• According to a study published on jamanetwork.com, only about 7.5% of smokers manage to quit successfully. This study emphasizes the importance of quitting smoking by age 35 to reduce health risks.
• The CDC reports that fewer than one in ten adult cigarette smokers succeed in quitting each year, with 7.5% of adult smokers successfully quitting in 2018, which amounts to 2.9 million individuals.
• An estimation published in bmjopen.bmj.com suggests that if it takes five to seven quit attempts on average, the success rate for each attempt is somewhere between 14% and 20%.
• The FDA notes that in 2018, about 8 percent of adult smokers were successful in quitting, even though approximately 55 percent had made a quit attempt in the past year.
• The Truth Initiative states that only 7.2 percent of smokers successfully quit in 2015, despite a substantial interest in quitting among female smokers.

These statistics highlight the significant challenge many smokers face when attempting to quit, underscoring the importance of smoking cessation programs and support to improve these success rates. Quitting smoking can be challenging, but it’s a vital step for improving health and reducing the risks associated with smoking-related diseases.

Overall, these statistics indicate that Smoking Cessation is a challenging endeavour, with a relatively low success rate among smokers attempting to quit.

What are the Benefits of Quitting Smoking?

There are numerous compelling reasons to stop smoking!
I have listed 21 of the most important ones here:

• Reduced Infertility: Smoking can increase the difficulty of getting pregnant and lead to premature births and low birth weights in babies.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers.
• Lung Cancer: Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer.
• Other Cancers: It also increases the risk of various other cancers.
• Strokes: Smoking contributes to an increased risk of strokes.
• Immune System Suppression: Smoking weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses.
• Alzheimer’s Disease: Smoking is linked to an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Oral Cancer: Secondhand smoke exposure can be associated with oral cancer.
• Yellowed Teeth: Tobacco use causes teeth to yellow and can lead to dental issues.
• Bad Breath: Smoking can result in persistent bad breath.
• Heart Disease: It significantly increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
• Respiratory Problems: Smoking damages the lungs, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Reduced Taste and Smell: Smoking can diminish the ability to taste and smell.
• Premature Aging: It accelerates skin aging, causing wrinkles and premature aging.
• Addiction: Nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive, making it difficult to quit.
• Financial Savings: Quitting smoking saves money spent on cigarettes.
• Improved Lung Function: Lungs start to heal after quitting, leading to better breathing.
• Better Physical Fitness: Non-smokers often have better endurance and physical performance.
• Enhanced Senses: Taste and smell become sharper after quitting smoking.
• Improved Fertility: Quitting smoking can enhance fertility in both men and women.
• Healthier Environment: Quitting not only benefits your health but also protects those around you from secondhand smoke.

These reasons highlight the numerous health and lifestyle advantages of smoking cessation, making it a worthwhile choice for a healthier and happier life.