You already know that there’s nothing redeeming about smoking “ it’s bad on a superficial level (think wrinkles, brittle hair and bad breath) and it’s awful for your insides too. It may be one of the toughest habits to break, but it’s never too late: the earlier in life you quit, the better. If you need more motivation to quit or are helping a close friend to stop, look no further. Here are the top-8 reasons to ditch the cig.
1. Keep your head (of hair). Studies show that smokers are more likely to get grays than non-smokers, and it can speed up hair loss as well. Good news: quitting will help you maintain a soft and shiny mane.
2. Save your smile. Smoking stains teeth and can lead to premature tooth loss and gum disease. Not to mention it guarantees perpetual bad breath.
3. Breathe easier. If lung cancer isn’t one of the biggest and scariest deterrents, think of everyday lung health: when you put down your smokes, shortness of breath improves and your lungs can return to better functioning, making breathing easier.
4. If not for you, do it for others. We’re not just talking second-hand smoke “ studies now show that third-hand smoke is just as toxic. Consider the toxic chemicals that stick around long after a cigarette is put out “ they sink into hair, clothing, furniture, carpet, cars, and continuously build up. Alarmingly, babies and young children suffer the most from second- and third-hand smoke because they have a faster breathing rate.
5. Unborn doesn’t mean unaffected. Second-hand smoke is harmful to babies even in utero. If you smoke while pregnant or someone close to you does, you face elevated risk for pre-term labour and newborn Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
6. Be kind to your skin. Smoking is drying and damages elasticity and tone and gives skin a sallow look “ quitting will help you head off premature aging, wrinkles and crow’s feet.
7. Pinch your pennies. Believe it or not, ditching your pack-a-day vice can add about $3,000 a year in your pocket. That’s a trip or the latest it-bag.
8. Live longer “ and better. It only takes 48 hours after you quit for your sense of taste and smell to improve and one year to cut your risk of smoking-related heart attacks in half. After you quit, heart rate and blood pressure return to normal and you are guaranteed to enjoy a longer, healthier life. There is really no better reason to quit.
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