Even though you know all about the nasty side effects of smoking, you are probably finding it tough to even wake up to the fact that you should give up the habit.  Every smoker would have stumbled upon all the statistics about smoking and yet he cannot break free from smoking. The mental and physical dependency on the cigarette is what makes it all the more difficult to quit smoking. A lot of smokers think ‘Why stop smoking’. Read on to find out just a few of the important reasons why smoking is considered to be such a monster.

Every year, UK sees about 114,000 deaths due to smoking. About a third of these are cancer related. The tip of the cigarette burns at 700 degrees and the core at 60 degrees.  This extreme heat is responsible for poisonous substances to be released by the constituents of cigarette, chiefly tobacco. If you thought that cancer was the only serious health issue caused by smoking, then think again. Smoking is known to affect the mental state of the individual and it increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

The composition of the cigarette is what makes it a health hazard. Cancer is caused by tar while nicotine increases the chances of the disease. It also raises the cholesterol level in the human body and this could lead to heart ailments. The increased amount of Carbon monoxide leads to a disparate lowering of Oxygen. This can cause suffocation and the individual would feel out of breath.

It’s not just how the cigarettes are manufactured that makes a difference to your health but also how often you smoke. A chain smoker would obviously see more pronounced effects faster than someone who’s an occasional smoker. This does not mean that you can smoke once a day—smoking is addictive and in less than 4 days, you could find yourself finishing off an entire pack per day. The damage smoking does to your body is very severe. As secondary smokers, even your family is at a considerable risk.

High blood pressure is one of the most often heard complaints among smokers. Your life is shorter by about 7 years, according to a research team that studied the effects of smoking on human life expectancy. It’s not just the reduction in the number of years but also the quality of life that is negatively affected by smoking. Asthma and lung disorders are also common; the airways become inflamed and hence breathing becomes difficult.

Smoking is known to make a person infertile. The reduced blood flow to the penis causes Erectile Dysfunction among men. The occurrence of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is higher among babies born to parents who are regular smokers.

Atherosclerosis or the clotting of the blood is because the arteries become narrow due to the constrictions caused by smoking. These blocks are due to cholesterol and fat getting deposited as a result of the higher nicotine concentration. As a result, smokers are more prone to cardiovascular diseases.

You cannot still be asking the question, ‘Why stop smoking’.