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Improving Quality of Health by Quitting Tobacco
As World No Tobacco Day is in May, it’s a good time to recognize how tobacco usage can affect a person’s health and why quitting is a beneficial option to one’s health now and in the long run.
Despite overwhelming evidence of the dangers of tobacco, relatively few users fully understand the extent of the harm that tobacco causes and tend to underestimate the risks to themselves and others.
Nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive, and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, multiple types of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions. Every year, more than 8 million people die from tobacco use.
Tobacco can also be deadly for non-smokers. Second-hand smoke exposure has also been implicated in adverse health outcomes, causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Nearly half of all children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke and 65,000 children die each year due to illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Additionally, smoking while pregnant can lead to several life-long health conditions for babies as well.
Quitting tobacco is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health and the health of those around them. This is true regardless of their age or how long they have been using tobacco. Quitting will not only improve your health in the long run, but now as well.
Some health benefits that begin almost immediately include: Sense of smell and taste returns to normal; breath, hair, and clothes smell better; teeth and fingernails stop yellowing; damaging effects of premature wrinkling of your skin, gum disease, and tooth loss cease; blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal; circulation improves; and respiratory function improves leaving you less out of breath during ordinary activities (for example, climbing stairs or light housework).
Longer term benefits include: improved health status and enhanced quality of life; reduced risk of premature death (as much as 10 years can be added to life expectancy); reduces the risk for many adverse health effects, including poor reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer; benefits people already diagnosed with coronary heart disease or COPD; benefits the health of pregnant women and their fetuses and babies; reduces the financial burden that tobacco places on people who use it, healthcare systems, and society.
Quitting is a very personal experience; what worked for others may or may not work for you. If you’re thinking about quitting, it’s important to make a plan and talk to your healthcare provider to see what options or resources are available to you to help quit.
At SIHF Healthcare our medical providers at each location are ready to assist you with maintaining your health and wellness needs. Taking it one day at a time and making little improvements, such as quitting smoking, can make life-changing differences in your overall health. Click here to find a SIHF Healthcare health center near you and book an appointment today. Your provider will take the time to listen to your health concerns and offer the best treatment that is right for you.