Smoking Takes Your Breath Away.

By Tom Johnson in Health on April 12th, 2008

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by Tom Johnson

We still convince ourselves that smoking is just a bad habit like nagging, procrastination, swearing, moaning or being lazy. The reality is that we’re well aware of the health dangers and how bad it is for us, but we continue to do it.

We know these things are not good habits to have, but most people have at least one of them and they don’t really hurt anyone else - they are behaviors that are frowned upon but are still forgivable.

Let’s get one thing straight… smoking is a dangerous bad habit that can cause many serious health problems not only to you but to all those around you. It’s more than a habit, it’s an addiction to drugs!

Whatever money you spend on smoking is no different to the money wasted on drinking or gambling, it denies you and your family some of the better things in life. What you’re spending on tobacco products such as cigars, cigarettes etc is nothing less than bad money management.

Most people who smoke are procrastinators - how often have you said to yourself I’ll give up soon/next week/next month? Why do you put up with the nagging of your friends and family and continue with something you know is bad for you? Excuses like anger and overeating are just that… excuses as these are not necessary side effects of quitting; they are just another bad habit some people develop to replace the one they felt they “gave up”.

Let’s look at the positives of choosing to quit smoking (remember it’s a choice you’re making, not a sacrifice). One of the immediate benefits is the amount of extra cash you’ll have in your wallet or purse to spend on improving your family’s lifestyle, instead of donating to the government and tobacco companies.

Now to the benefits to your health. Did you know that within 20 minutes your heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure return to a normal range!

Your bloodstream begins to rid itself of carbon monoxide after 8 hours and returns to normal levels as well as the awful tobacco smell on your breath begins to lessen. After 2 months, your decision to quit has helped to increase your circulation and clear your lungs so that your energy levels increase and your smokers cough has disappeared.

Within a year your odds of developing cancer are drastically reduced and the possibility of a heart attack is 50% less. In fact, after 10 years you’re in no more danger of stroke or heart attack than a person who has never smoked in their life!

You’re no longer made to go out in the freezing cold or blistering heat just to satisfy your habit. You can remain inside with your family, friends or work colleagues who don’t smoke and be admired for your decision to stop smoking.

Children are great imitators, so think about which you’d prefer… your children and their children imitating your smoking habit or copying your smoke free, healthy lifestyle? Give some thought to being a positive role model for them.

About the Author:

Have a hard time quitting smoking? Be sure to check out Tom Johnsons’ 21 day free stop smoking ecourse. Have other bad habits? Then you want one or more of his 22 free bad habits ecourses