I used to smoke more than one packet of cigarettes daily, and I couldn’t live without them. Since I was 15 years old, smoking had been part of my life.
But after smoking for 20 years, I started to feel more and more about the harmful effects of tobacco.
My condition was becoming worse. Within a few meters of running or swimming, I was experiencing shortness of breath and gasping for air.
Because my lungs were so full, I always got up coughing badly. Needless to say, this caused great worry as it could indicate lung cancer in the future.
And these were just a few of the many uncomfortable results of smoking for so many years.
So, I decided to quit. This seems to be a simple step for those who don’t smoke, but for a guy like me, simply the thought of living without cigarettes made me nervous and angry. I had a feeling of losing one part of my personality and life.
Despite this, I began my journey.
To begin, I compiled a list of all the reasons why I should quit.
Please find my list below.
1. The unpleasant morning cough is bothering me, and I would like to get rid of it
During the combustion of tobacco in a cigarette, smoke is generated. Smoke inhaled consists of thousands of components, varying in size and toxicity. Larger particles are caught in the upper respiratory tract and do not reach deep into the lungs. Smaller particles, however, may reach the lower airways of the lungs.
Inflammation is a permanent, chronic condition of smoking. Phlegm builds up in the airways due to chronic local inflammation, making breathing difficult and causing constant coughing.
Coughing caused by smoking became more annoying to me over time. I found it irritating at work, at home, and everywhere. It was loud enough that everyone could hear it. I tried to conceal it by coughing into my hand, but I did not always succeed. It was embarrassing, and I often felt like others were judging me for it.
Credit: observerbd.com
2. The condition of my body should be improved
As a result of smoking, my physical condition was poor. I could not run, swim, or ride a bike for an extended period. After a few minutes, I just huffed and puffed. Honestly, I felt ashamed that I was in middle age and functioning like a 70-year-old grandfather. Even worse, I had to stop after a quarter-hour of being taken for a tour by my kids.
3. As a parent, I do not want my children to become smokers
I grew up in a family where all the men smoked. My father, grandpas, and uncles were heavy smokers. So, it was natural for me. I believe that is one of the main reasons I started smoking. I had negative examples in front of me—men I wanted to follow.
But now I have kids, and I don’t want that they fall into the same trap as me. I never want to see them with a cigarette in their mouth!
4. My goal is to live a long life
It would be hard to list all the bad things that smoking can cause. Lung cancer is just one of the many fatal diseases that it causes. And it is also a fact that smokers have a much shorter life expectancy.
When we are young, we don’t care much about these diseases. We enjoy life and think we can do anything without consequences. But, as years go by, we think more and more about death. And, the desire to live longer and healthy get even more important when we have kids. I want to be with my loved ones as long as possible.
Credit: cdc.gov
5. It is important to me to look good
Firstly, I was fed up with the smell of cigarette smoke. It got into my hair, skin, and clothes so deeply. I couldn’t seem to get rid of it. I washed my hair almost every day and put on fresh clothes, but after a while, I smelt that bad odor again. I could imagine how disgusting is that for people who don’t smoke.
The next is bad breath. I chewed menthol chewing gum and washed my teeth 2-3 times a day, but if you are a heavy smoker, it is impossible to get rid of bad breath. You should refresh your mouth after every cigarette, which is impossible.
Lastly, my skin. I was just in the middle of my thirties when I noticed more wrinkles around my eyes! What is wrong with me? Is this normal? Can I stop this? Yes, of course, you should stop smoking. Smoking causes the body to become increasingly dehydrated, which increases the appearance of wrinkles.
In a nutshell, I’m not a narcist for whom beauty is the most critical thing in life. But I don’t want to look older than I’m. And, without stopping smoking, it is going to be hard.
6. I want to save money
When I was alone, I didn’t really care about the price of a package. But now I have three kids, and the cost of a pack tripled! What nonsense it is to spend on something that has no positive effect. Actually, it just makes me as ill.
Instead of puffing that money, I now collect the money in my savings to support my kids’ future.
7. I want to be proud of myself
As a matter of fact, dropping smoke is a terrible experience. When we first begin, we feel empty, angry, depressed, and who knows what else. However, when we win, we will feel such pride that it is difficult to compare to anything else. It strengthens our personality greatly. Finally, we may be able to serve as an excellent source of inspiration for others.