So what if you are a smoker? So what if you smell like smoke and stink all the time...? No, mints don't help at all, we still get the stink! But that's not your problem! So what if your voice seems heavy and cracked? So what if you look older and wrinkly than you actually are? So what if you are a smoker? You probably started smoking because you were in your teens and it was probably the 'cool' thing to do, but what you tried for fun has become a habit that is a part of you, you are comfortable with smoking and though it has its share of side effects, it seems to work fine for you as of now. I repeat, it seems to work fine for you as of now! Life is not always how it seems. Maybe others have a problem with you smoking and you don't, but after reading the top 10 reasons to quit smoking that are mentioned below, trust me, you will have a problem as well. ☠ 10 Reasons as to Why You Should Quit Smoking OK, I know that you have heard it (or seen it on your cigarette packet) a zillion times that 'cigarette smoking is injurious to health' or 'smoking kills'. And I also know that you think that 'we all have to die one day or the other, so how does it really matter as long as you're living a normal life'! Well, you need to think if you're really living a 'normal life'! Almost all the smokers that I have known, don't really care about their health, because they can't see how smoking is affecting them and those around them. On the other hand, there are some smokers who realize how they are killing themselves slowly, but don't have the motivation or the strength to quit. Whether you belong to the former, or the latter group, the list of reasons to quit smoking will show you what you can't see, and give you all the strength and motivation to quit smoking. #1: You are Being Watched and Followed No, I don't mean that you're being watched and followed by the health department that will charge you a fine or put you behind the bars for smoking cigarettes, I mean that you are constantly being observed by the people around you, especially kids and teenagers. Do you have kids? Or are you close to a kid who actually looks up to you as an example? A survey states that most of the kids start smoking in their teens because a family member is a smoker. You have had this habit for a long time, do you want to cease it or pass it on? #2: You are Affecting those Around You Apart from being a bad example, your smoking is also hampering the health and fitness of those around you. Ever heard of passive smoking? Do you realize how the smoke coming out through your cigarette causes chronic health issues like heart problems, lung diseases, and breathing disorders to those around? What if I tell you that your smoking can make your spouse or your kids suffer from these conditions, would you not quit even then? #3: You are Taking the Path to Loneliness What is your answer to the question I asked you above? Would you stop, or would you prefer being alone, away from your dear ones, so that your smoking doesn't end up affecting them? You have your answer right there. I have seen people reject smokers when it comes to dating them. I have seen partners sleeping in a different room because the smoking is too much to take. I have seen kids suffer from asthma at an early age because the parent(s) couldn't give up smoking. At work, I have seen people making weird faces and keeping a distance from smokers because the smell is too much. Trust me, any health conscious person would choose to be with a non-smoker instead of a smoker. #4: Smoking Affects Your Health Yes I know that you know it, but this sure is a top reason for you to quit smoking! To begin with, let me ask you, do you get tired or experience shortness of breath after moderate exercising or climbing two or three floors up the stairs? Do you experience morning cough? Do you think you lack energy? Do you have yellowish teeth, dry skin, and wrinkles on your face? Well, if the answer to even one of these questions is a yes, then you have your reason to quit. Apart from this, the repetitive yet known fact still remains, smokers are prone to heart attacks and strokes, their lungs are covered with tar and phlegm which eventually leads to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Smoking is also considered to be the leading cause of cancer, including lung cancer and breast cancer! #5: Smoking Leads to Depression Another study shows that smokers are highly prone to suffer from depression when compared to people who don't smoke. In fact, smoking is known to be the leading cause of depression, did you know that? I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but this point made me think. Mostly all the smokers that I know, seem to be very tensed, disappointed, or stressed out in life. When you talk to them and observe their body language, they actually appear to be lonely and depressed in some way or the other. Don't you think? Anyway, the good news is, that people who manage to quit this habit, also quit their chances of getting into severe depression. Won't you want that? #6: Smoking Affects your Fertility Well, speaking about health issues, depression, and loneliness, did you know that smoking can also affect your sex life and fertility. Women who smoke, tend to have difficulty getting pregnant, or even if they manage to get pregnant, they suffer from complications such as ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages, or premature births. The infants also have high chances to develop birth defects and abnormalities. If you are pregnant, then this article on tips to quit smoking for pregnant women is something that you must go through! Speaking about the men who smoke, they too may have problems including erectile dysfunction and low sperm count which can lead to infertility. Another problem that women who smoke tend to experience is extreme symptoms of PMS. They experience various Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) problems like bloating, cramps, breast tenderness, and pain. They also tend to experience a lot of mood swings, acne, backaches, and headaches. #7: Just Have a Good Look at Yourself! If you are a chain smoker, or a 'regular smoker', just have a good look at yourself. Or ask a loved one about your appearance. When you talk to them, your mouth stinks, when you smile, your teeth appear to be yellowish and stained. Your skin appears to be pale and dry. You probably look older than you are because wrinkles have started forming on your skin. Oh, how did I forget the nails? They seem yellow, as if you have jaundice or something. Which part of this description seems to be appealing to you? Do you want yourself to be described like this all your life? #8: Do You Know How Much You Spend on Smoke? Money is the talk in today's world, so let's cover that point as well! How much does a pack of cigarette cost in your city. Well, depending on where you stay, it would cost somewhere around $9 or so. Now, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes everyday, how much does that come to in a month? And in a year, you do the math! It would come to more than $3,000 a year, don't you think you could utilize this money for a much better reason? #9: Don't You Want to Live Life to the Fullest? Research states that smoking affects the sensations of a person. It affects the memory, eyesight, taste, and smell as well. God has blessed us with these senses so that we can live our life to the fullest. I know a chain smoker who was diagnosed with depression which was linked to smoking. He fought against all temptations and quit smoking. You know what was the first thing he said when I met him? He said that now he enjoys his food more, because it tastes better. And the flowers in his garden smell all the more fresh and aromatic. Don't you want to experience the same... live life to the fullest? #10: Do you Wish for a Healthy and Long Life? People these days don't wish for a really long life, but yes, a healthy life is something that everyone wishes for! Do you wish for the same? Well, with the aforementioned reasons stated above, you must have realized that although you might manage to live with smoking, it wouldn't be possible to live a long and healthy life. Research shows that nearly 500,000 people die every year due to tobacco, and that too, the death is not a peaceful one. The causes are mouth cancer, COPD, heart problems, and stroke, to name a few. So realize what you want, to live longer, healthier, and happier, or to live smoking, die young, and die with pain? What you need to understand is that you are the only one who can help yourself quit smoking! You would probably meet ten thousand people everyday who tell you to quit, you have probably read several articles as to why you should quit... and you still can't find the answer. Yes, you have a habit and you must stop it before it becomes an irreversible cause of agony in your life, or someone else's. In fact, if you think about it, your life is also related to the life of several others. These were my top 10 reasons to quit smoking, what are yours?