‘whether it is a last effort or a first step, it is the determined life that lives’
©Lives for Living 2011
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Counselling, Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy
Private Practice, Bolton, Greater Manchester
Lives for Living
The Benefits of Stopping Smoking
Stopping smoking can make a big difference to your health and lifestyle. It is never too late to stop smoking to greatly benefit your health. For example, if you stop smoking in middle age, before having cancer or some other serious disease, you avoid most of the increased risk of death due to smoking. Help is available if you find it difficult to stop smoking.
What are the health benefits of stopping smoking?
The benefits begin straight away.
You reduce your risk of getting serious disease
no matter what age you give up. However, the sooner you stop, the greater the reduction
in your risk.
- If you stop smoking you:
- Reduce the risk of getting serious smoking-
related diseases such as heart disease, cancers, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and peripheral vascular disease. - Reduce the risk of getting various other conditions which, although not life threatening, can cause unpleasant problems. For example: impotence (erection problems), fertility problems, optic neuropathy, cataract, macular degeneration, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Raynaud's phenomenon.
- Reduce the risk of pregnancy complications if you are pregnant.
- If you have smoked since being a teenager or young adult:
- If you stop smoking before the age of about 35, your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked.
- If you stop smoking before the age of 50, you decrease the risk of dying from smoking-
related diseases by 50%. - But it is never too late to stop smoking to gain health benefits. Even if you already have COPD or heart disease, your outlook (prognosis) is much improved if you stop smoking.
Timeline of health benefits after stopping smoking...
After... Health Benefit...
- 72 hours Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase
- 1 month Skin appearance improves owing to improved skin perfusion
- 3–9 months Cough, wheezing, and breathing problems improve and lung function increases by up to 10%
- 1 year Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker
- 10 years Risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker
- 15 years Risk of heart attack falls to the same level as someone who has never smoked
Other benefits of stopping smoking include:
- Your breath wont smell any more of stale tobacco.
- The smell of stale tobacco will also go from your clothes, hair, and home.
- Foods and drinks taste and smell much better.
- Finances improve. You will save well over £1000 per year if you smoked 20 a day.
- Better rates of insurance policies.
- You are likely to feel good about yourself.