How to Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your life and health. Any attempt to quit smoking will make you stronger. It's never too late to reap the benefits, some of which happen within the first few days. With the right combination of practice, determination and support, you will be able to stop smoking for good!

Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking?
Mark Twain said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." Maybe you've tried to quit, too. Why is quitting and staying quit hard for so many people? The answer is nicotine.

How old do you have to be to purchase tobacco?

Since October 2007, in England, Scotland and Wales, it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. The age limit was previously 16. This includes the sale of cigars, rolling tobacco, rolling papers, and cigarettes from vending machines. This change in the law brings the age restriction in line with the purchase of alcohol.

Before you stop
·    Don't be afraid to ask for help.
·    Ask family and friends not to smoke around you.
·    Wash your clothes to get rid of the smell of smoke.
·    Decide you'll only smoke during odd or even hours of the day.
·    Write down the reasons you want to become a non-smoker.
·    Each day, postpone lighting your first cigarette by one hour.
·    Ask your partner or a friend to stop with you - make a contract with each other.
·    Make a date and stick to it. Draw up a plan of action and consider all the methods available.

What health problems are caused by smoking? 
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and diminishes a person’s overall health. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. It causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx (voice box), mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia (1).
Smoking also causes heart disease, stroke, lung disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), hip fractures, and cataracts. Smokers are at higher risk of developing pneumonia and other airway infections (1).


·    Smoking KILLS
·    Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world die from diseases caused by smoking.
·    One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit. Half of these deaths will occur in middle age.
·    Tobacco smoke also contributes to a number of  cancers.
·    The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels.
·    This can cause heart attacks and stroke. It slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs
amputated.


Benefits of Quitting

·    Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.
·    Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general.