Stop Smoking & Other Health Living and more Health Articles DiagnosisHealth.com Health Discussions Disease Information Center

Stop Smoking

About the author of Natural Stomach Care:

Dr. Minocha is a practicing gastroenterologist and author of one of the top selling book "Natural Stomach Care: Treating and Preventing Digestive Disorders with Best of Eastern and Western Therapies".

Quit smoking. It is good for you and your family!

It is no secret that smoking is harmful for health. However, just because you have been smoking for a long time does not mean it’s a lost cause. It is never too late to quit smoking to derive the health benefits.

Death from all causes

About half of the smokers die due to smoking-related illness. If you quit smoking now, you can lower the risk. While the greatest benefit is if you quit before the age of 40, smoking cessation after the age of 60 or even 80 years of age also lowers mortality as compared to those who do not quit.

Heart disease

More than 10% of heart-related deaths across the world and 33% in the U.S. can be attributed effects of smoking.

Risk of heart attacks, sudden death and strokes is substantially decreased if you quit smoking. Beneficial effect of smoking cessation on heart is at least as good as or probably better than other strategies using medications to lower cholesterol.

Cancer

It is well known that smoking increases risk of lung cancer. Less appreciated is the fact that smoking increases risk for many cancers in other parts of the body including GI cancers.

Even if you develop a cancer related to smoking, stopping smoking still reduces risk of developing a second cancer related to smoking.

Lung disease

Smoking is the biggest causative factor related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. You can arrest the decline in lung function if you quit smoking. Other symptoms of early COPD e.g. early morning cough and sputum improve upon cessation

Smoking cessation also improves symptoms of asthma.

Infections

Smokers are at increased risk for a variety of infections including TB, common cold and pneumonia. Smoking cessation may modify the risk of developing respiratory infections and/or improve the healing process.

Diabetes

The more you smoke, the more likely are you to develop diabetes in the long run. While the risk of diabetes may increase initially due to weight gain, the risk goes down after a few years of smoking cessation.

Weak bones and fractures

Smokers suffer a faster bone loss and potential risk of hip fractures especially in women. The bone loss can be slowed and even reversed along with reduced risk of fractures after smoking cessation.

Reproductive dysfunction

Smoking increases risk of pregnancy related complication, premature menopause, and subnormal fertility in women.

Babies born to smoking mothers tend to low weight and many have diseases later in life that could be attributed to mom’s smoking during pregnancy

Smoking causes erectile dysfunction and subnormal fertility in men.

Stopping cessation by pregnant moms leads to better health outcome for the mom as well as the newborn baby.

Ulcers

Smokers have greater risk for ulcers. Treatment failures are also more common. Smoking cessation decreases risk for developing ulcers and improves repair processes in those who already have ulcers.

Bad teeth and gums

Smoking increases risk of gum disease and this risk can be decreased by quitting smoking. It should be noted that bad gums are not just bad in the mouth but have repercussions far beyond mouth including increasing the risk of heart disease.

Complications of surgery

Smokers tend to have greater number of complications infections after surgery including poor wound healing and lung infections. Former nonsmokers have lower risk as compared to those who continue to smoke.

Risks of quitting smoking

Although benefits of smoking cessation are significantly greater than the risks posed by it, recognition and proper management of such issues enhances the chance of continued smoking cessation without relapse.

Nicotine with Symptoms include increased weight and appetite, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and restlessness. The most difficult period is the first few days with symptoms subsiding over next 2-3 weeks. Medications as well as counseling etc. can help alleviate this problem.

Weight gain

Weight gain is common and that is one of the biggest fears precluding people from quitting. While the average total weight gain is about 4-5 kg, a small fraction may gain as much as 13 kg or more. It tends to occur more in women and in heavy smokers.

Above notwithstanding, the benefits of quitting far outweigh the health problems related to increased weight gain. The increased weight gain can be constrained by proper weight management strategies including counseling and even medications.

Depression

It is unlikely that quitting smoking causes depression. However, smoking cessation may precipitate depressive episode in patients with known depression. This can be addressed by proper use medications and counseling. Again, the risk of psychiatric problems is far outweighed by the benefits accrued from smoking cessation.

Coughing and mouth ulcers

Smoking cessation is associated with a transient increase in mouth ulcers and increased coughing. The problems go away within a few weeks after quitting. Those with preexisting bronchitis may suffer increase in cough as well, but that gets better as well.

Conclusions

Smoking cessation offers substantial health benefits. It’s never too late to stop smoking in order getting these benefits. So the time to quit smoking is now!

This is meant to be an informational exercise and NOT a medical consultation

Your doctor is the only one who can best assess your situation and offer you medical advice

We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information provided in this article on stop smoking

>>Stop smoking, Healthy Living Other Articles on Digestive Health

>>Other Health and Diagnosishealth Home

A message to all visitors and participants: Contents of this site are meant for educational and discussion purpose only and should not, in any case, be substituted for a medical consultation. The information posted or linked to this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem. Your doctor is the only one who can best assess your health situation and give you a medical advice. No responsibility/liability can be accepted for any posted or linked information and use or misuse thereof. Inclusion on this site in no way implies endorsement for a particular organization, products and/or person/persons and their work. Must read disclaimer ....