AS I was driving, I kept thinking about the woman. I kept thinking how wasteful it was for her to keep her vice. Not only does smoking cost too much—thanks to the government’s move to impose a higher “sin” tax—it also sucks the life out of you. With a stick of cigarette, one opens oneself to the risks of diminishing stamina, dry lips, bad breath, coughs and ultimately, lung complications.
Roughly 438,000 Americans die each year from diseases caused by smoking. It is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and lower respiratory-tract infections. All of these are leading causes of death in those 50 years and older.
Studies show that 65-year-old men who smoke twice daily are likely to die from stroke. The risk of having a heart attack is about 60 percent higher for smokers aged 65 than their nonsmoking counterparts.
Not only does smoking affect your lungs and your heart; it also affects your brain. Old persons who smoke have a greater chance of developing dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease over those who do not smoke.
Ultimately, smoking reduces your normal life expectancy by an average of 15 years.
Aesthetically, smoking causes the lines on your face to increase at a faster pace than those who do not smoke.
I urge you, therefore, to quit smoking—even at a gradual phase. Letting go of something that you grew up with is hard, but if it means that you’ll have a better life, why cry over what will be lost?
Start small; decrease the number of sticks you consume per day. Try drinking tea and coffee as an alternative to smoking. Binge on fruits and salads instead of consuming sticks of cigarettes.
By the time you have bid smoking good-bye, you’ll see gradual changes in your system. Your stamina will increase and your energy levels will also shoot up dramatically. Your partner will also see a different glow in your skin.
Oh, by the way, the savings that you get for every cigarette pack could be used for essential things. So quit now, and see the difference.