Smoking cessation is associated with the following health benefits:^3,8,9

• Smoking cessation lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer.
• Smoking cessation reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Coronary heart disease risk is substantially reduced within 1 to 2 years of quitting.
• Smoking cessation reduces respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The rate of decline in lung function is slower among people who quit smoking than among those who continue to smoke.
• Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
• Smoking cessation by women during their reproductive years reduces the risk for infertility. Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby.

What does smoking do to your health?

Because Smoking is known to

Increase bad (LDL) cholesterol
Lower good (HDL) cholesterol
COPD- Emphysema, Bronchitis
Lung and heart diseases
Increase the rate of heart attacks by six times in women and three times in men
Cancers in the lungs, bladder, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, larynx, mouth, and cervix.
Increase in blood pressure and the risk of blood clots

Smokers are at increased risk of back pain

Deadly Connection between Cigarette Smoking and Back Pain

Cigarette smoking has been strongly linked to a number of serious health conditions like heart disease, emphysema, lung cancer, and other cardiovascular ailments. This habit is responsible for nearly 440,000 of more than 2.4 million premature deaths in the United States and is one of the leading causes of death around the world. In addition to back pain, smokers may also be susceptible to pain in the neck, shoulders, hands, elbows, knees, and hips.

One possible reason is that cigarette smoking may damage the general musculoskeletal (muscles and skeleton system) tissues by reducing blood supply to the tissues, raising clotting risks, and reducing the flow of nutrients to muscles, joints, and back.

Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals, in which 60 are carcinogenic. Formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium, benzene, and ethylene oxide are some of the substances that may cause cancer.

However, the message is clear; smokers who suffer from back pain have many reasons to kick the habit. Quitting smoking may not immediately relieve the pain, but it may help.
Individuals who have a hard time cutting the habit may use scientifically proven quit smoking products and alternative methods that are available. People who want to quit smoking may also try other methods of quitting smoking by trying other methods non-medical methods like meditation (prayer)  and self hypnotism. You may ask your doctor on how you can engage in these activities. With the right tools and attitudes, cigarette smoking can be stopped permanently.

Culled from: http://www.my-health-n-fitness.com

   Want to Quit Smoking? Then follow the S – T – A – R

S:         Set a quit date within 2 weeks.

T:         Tell family, friends and coworkers about your plans and ask for support

A:        Anticipate ways to deal with times you feel like smoking again

R:        Remove cigarettes, matches and ashtrays from your home, car, office

and other places where you smoke

* Attend group counseling nearest to you when possible.

*Ask your provider about Online web-based resources that maybe   helpful to you

*Create a mantra. If cigarette smoking is beckoning, tell it who’s boss. State your intention: “I will not smoke this cigarette.”  Repeat it at least three times until it becomes a fact. Research shows that declarations of intention increase will power. And that’s exactly what you need to call in for backup when cravings get the best of you.

***IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO QUIT… Yes You CAN!!