Effective recommended steps to quit smoking today

Cigarette stubs in an ashtray

 

 

 

When I was young, I saw many people in Africa, including some of my classmates, smoking daily. When I asked them what motivated them to smoke, they said it was “just to fit in with the modern trend,” since if you don’t smoke, those smokers will make fun of you and call you names like “Dada ba,” which means “Daddy’s child,” because they listen to what their parents say.

 

However, I didn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to be referred to as “Daddy’s child” because no one could persuade me to do something that would be harmful to my health. That’s what made me never touch a cigarette in my life. In Europe, too, I discovered that a lot of young people, particularly students, smoke. When I tried to find out the reason, I was told it was due to peer pressure, and according to some, to calm nerves and prevent nervousness.

 

These European students’ explanations of why they smoke led me to inquire further about their parents. When I inquired if their parents also smoke, most of them said that they do. When your parents smoke, it’s easy to give in to the desire to smoke yourself, which is how I came to understand some of the reasons these students smoke. Many of these young boys who smoke in Africa were frequently sent by their fathers to buy cigarettes.

 

Everyone has the power to make wise choices regarding their health because what they consume, smoke, or put into their bodies now will affect how they feel later on. Imagine two identical five-year-old cars, one with 50,000 kilometers driven and the other with 500,000 kilometers. Which is the stronger? To put it another way, your strength in later life will depend on how you manage your life.

 

It’s difficult to overcome a substance misuse addiction; even those who receive treatment at rehabilitation facilities frequently revert to their previous behaviors. However, I can promise you that if you truly love yourself, you can overcome any unhealthy habit that is damaging your health.

 

Here are the best measures by “Northwestern Medicine” physicians. (www.nm.org).

 

Smoking’s harmful impact on your health

 

It’s a decision that protects your future and improves your present.

— Karin Podolski, MSN, MPH, RN

Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs — it can harm almost every organ in your body. Statistics show that one out of every five deaths in the United States is related to smoking. This habit can lead to a wide range of serious health conditions, including:

• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Diabetes

 

Advantages of giving up smoking

 

“Quitting smoking is a significant step you can take to improve your health and overall well-being,” says Karin Podolski, MSN, MPH, RN, director of Community Health Services at Northwestern Medicine.

Many benefits come from smoking cessation. When you quit smoking, you:

• Reduce your risk of premature death.
• Reduce your risk of many life-threatening health issues.
• Improve your reproductive health.

Quitting smoking also has important benefits for pregnancy. It can improve the health of expectant mothers and their babies.

Smoking isn’t just a physical habit either. It’s a psychological dependence that affects behavior, mood, and emotions. “Quitting smoking also empowers you mentally by breaking free from addiction and gaining control over your choices,” adds Podolski.

 

The Timeline of Benefits

 

The benefits of quitting smoking start sooner than you might think.

“The benefits of quitting smoking begin almost immediately after your last cigarette,” explains Podolski. “Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop.”

But that’s just the beginning. Podolski outlines the timeline of benefits:

 

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