• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Onsite Clinic
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Support Services
  • Resources
    • Press Releases
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

Five Reasons to Quit Smoking and How to Do It

    Home Health Tips Five Reasons to Quit Smoking and How to Do It
    Next Previous
    Five Reasons to Quit Smoking

    Five Reasons to Quit Smoking and How to Do It

    By Kristen Tekin, PA-C, Medcor Provider | Comments are Closed | 9 February, 2022 0

    So, you’re a smoker.  There’s surely been pressure on you from either yourself, your loved ones, your doctor, or perhaps all three, to quit, but success has eluded you so far.  Smoking can play a number of roles in someone’s life.  For some, it is tied to bonding with a group of friends, for others it’s a means of escaping work for a few minutes. Additionally, the nicotine content in tobacco is a powerfully addictive substance.  Even the strongest-willed individual can find quitting to be beyond their ability. Smoking is a pleasurable experience for many, so it’s not hard to understand the difficulty in putting the habit to rest. Here are five reasons to start your journey to a tobacco-free lifestyle:

    1. Quitting smoking will not only improve your chances of living longer, but also of living better.

    As soon as you quit smoking, the insult to your lungs and airways stops and your body’s natural systems set to work repairing the damage.  This often means you will actually feel a weight lifted from your chest.  You may notice that what once felt normal to you was actually not; A scratchy throat, chronic coughing, postnasal drip, becoming easily tired or breathless, and even a stunted sense of smell and taste are all common symptoms long-time smokers experience. Without tobacco, not only will you be less likely to suffer from one of the many diseases associated with smoking, like cancer, COPD, heart attack, stroke, vascular disease, pneumonia, high blood pressure, etc., you will have a much more enjoyable state of health.1,2

    2. You will be able to spend your money on other things.

    Smoking is becoming an increasingly expensive way to spend your time. There has been a steady trend of rising cigarette prices in nearly every corner of the world. That price adds up quickly, even if cigarettes are relatively affordable where you buy.  If you regularly purchase a pack of cigarettes, do the math of how much is spent over a month or a year. Now, think of other worthwhile ways you could spend that money and you are on your way to pocketing some motivation!

    3. You’ll have less hassle.

    Rules to take your smoking away from any hazards or vulnerable people are enforced more and more.   Gone are the days of smoking in the office for most workers. Forget about taking a cigarette out to smoke in the department store, the sports arena, or most restaurants.  Those days have been over for a while. Now you have to ask yourself: is that cigarette really worth standing in the rain? Or evacuating to thirty feet away from the building? Imagine the freedom to go outside only when you want to, rather than when you need to smoke.

    4. You will be doing your family and friends a favor.

    The smoke you inhale is not the only pathway your cigarette smoke takes. Second-hand smoke affects those around you in several ways.  Most immediately, it can irritate the nose, throat and lungs of by-standers.  This is especially true for young people.  Children and babies are known to be at higher risk for developing asthma and other breathing problems if they live with someone that smokes.3  Even if the smoker takes the habit outside, the toxins infiltrate their clothes and hair, creating a hazard for holding little ones as they snuggle against you.4  Among the long-term consequences, cancer and stroke rates are higher in those exposed to second-hand smoke. 3 You may even find your house more peaceful at night, as those who smoke or those exposed to second-hand smoke more frequently snore.1

    5. Make yourself proud!

    Quitting an addictive substance like tobacco can be difficult.  For some, it is a daily commitment to remain smoke-free. That’s why it is something worth celebrating!  Many of those who quit smoking find numerous social advantages to their new-found accomplishment. You may be a better role model for the young people in your life by not only modeling a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle, but also by showing them how to overcome self-destructive habits!5

    So now that you’ve decided to quit, what are the next steps?

    Decide the best approach for meeting your quitting goal. Are you wanting to do it on your own? Nicotine replacement is a simple approach to reduce the satisfaction of smoking by replacing the nicotine from smoking with another source, and slowly weaning off. Perhaps this is not the first time you’ve tried to quit, in which case you may benefit from one of the medical treatment options your medical provider can offer for reducing cravings to smoke.  Whatever the case, having a strategy in place will increase the odds of your success.6

    There are numerous resources for those interested in quitting. Text QUIT to 47848,  call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or visit smokefree.gov for guidance and support in your journey to a healthier you.

    Now, get out there and be a quitter!

    References

    1. https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/reasons-to-quit-smoking
    2. https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/what-are-the-health-risks-of-smoking/
    3. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm#:~:text=Secondhand%20smoke%20causes%20lung%20cancer%20in%20adults%20who%20have%20never%20smoked.&text=4-,Nonsmokers%20who%20are%20exposed%20to%20secondhand%20smoke%20at%20home%20or,cancer%20by%2020%E2%80%9330%25.&text=Secondhand%20smoke%20causes%20more%20than,among%20U.S.%20nonsmokers%20each%20year.
    4. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/tobacco/Pages/How-Parents-Can-Prevent-Exposure-Thirdhand-Smoke.aspx
    5. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/tobacco/Pages/How-to-Quit-When-the-Smoker-is-You.aspx
    6. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/FOH-products-quit-nicotine.h12-1589835.html

    Authored by: Kristen Tekin

    Share
    cancer, cigarettes, COPD, heart attack, high blood pressure, pneumonia, smoking, stroke, tobacco, vascular disease

    Kristen Tekin, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    More posts by Kristen Tekin, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    Related Post

    • How Drinking Soda Impacts Your Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Soda pairs almost too well with salty snacks to quench your thirst. The sweet taste is satisfying, and it is available almost anywhere you go. But the convenient option is not the healthiest option, soRead more

      Share

    • Ladder Safety Month

      By Danielle Olipra

      March is National Ladder Safety Month and as always, Medcor is thinking about all the hard workers we support and their safety on the job. Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the constructionRead more

      Share

    • Healthy Habits For Your Heart

      By Danielle Olipra

      February is National Heart Month. The World Health Organization reports cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, killing over 17 million people each year. The principles that guide you to a healthyRead more

      Share

    • Common Steps to Manage Diabetes

      By Danielle Olipra

      It is estimated by the CDC that over 34 million Americans have diabetes, and over the last 20 years, the number of U.S. adults diagnosed with diabetes has doubled due to increasing obesity, inactivity, andRead more

      Share

    • Your Workspace and Your Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      You spend a lot of time in your workspace, but have you thought about using your workspace to give you the best foundation to do your job? You could be setting yourself up for betterRead more

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Recent Posts

    • How Drinking Soda Impacts Your Health
    • Ladder Safety Month
    • Healthy Habits For Your Heart
    • Common Steps to Manage Diabetes
    • Your Workspace and Your Health
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Insights

    • The ROI of Onsite Medical Clinics in the Construction Industry
      May 23, 2023
    • The Cost of Not Investing in Employee Wellbeing Programs
      May 17, 2023
    • What is Mental Health First Aid and How Can Companies Implement it?
      April 12, 2023

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442


    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright © 2023 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Onsite Clinic
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor