1/16/2013

Benefits of not smoking can be both immediate and long-term. It is very well known that smoking is a health hazard- a fact that even cigarette manufacturers agree with and advertise on the cigarette packets. Immediate benefits of not smoking such as improved blood circulation, breathing capacity and body vigor are incentives enough to enable a smoker to quit his habit. However, the benefits do not stop at this, in fact, they continue long after creating an immediate impact.



Long- term benefits of not smoking mainly relate to the vital organ systems of our body namely, the circulatory and the respiratory systems. These benefits include reduced risks of heart attacks, lung diseases, pneumonia, ulcers and cancer. In terms of a timescale, the chances of a heart attack after 1 year of not smoking is half that in a continuing smoker. After 5 years, the risk of a stroke is the same as that for a non-smoker. A decade of smoking cessation cuts the risk of lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreatic and cervical cancers by half. After almost 15 years, the risk for a heart attack drops to that of a non-smoker.



Reduced risks for problems with vision and yellowing teeth, enhanced mental ability and improved immunity are other long-term benefits of not smoking. Mouth, stomach and duodenal ulcers heal quickly in a former smoker than in a continuing smoker. Even pregnant women stand to benefit by not smoking- their infants will have a normal birth weight and they would have a better bone health if they stop smoking preferably before and also throughout pregnancy.



To put it succinctly, the long-term benefits of not smoking are a healthier and disease free life and a reduced chance of premature death that translates to a lengthened life-span. Studies show that the chances of death are reduced by more than 90% if one quits at the age of 30. By quitting at around 50 years, risk of death reduces by 50%. In fact, even if one quits smoking after 60 years, they would live longer than the aged who continue to smoke.



Long-term benefits of not smoking are appreciated only when the quitter becomes old and still continues to lead a healthy life. As is said- 'Sow today to reap a rich harvest tomorrow'. Hence, considering the numerous long-term benefits, a sincere effort to quit smoking at the earliest is the need of the hour.



Thus, long-term Benefits of not smoking contribute to a healthy and disease-free life along with a lengthened life-span.
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