A proper diet and regular exercise are crucial to a healthy lifestyle, but other choices you make on a daily basis also contribute to your overall health. Choosing to smoke not only is bad for your health in the short-term, but it has the potential to cause some significant health issues for you later in life.

We know that tobacco is highly addictive, and it can be really hard to quit! However, finding your motivation to put down the cigarettes for good will have immediate positive impacts on yourself and your entire family.

Check out AFC Urgent Care Cleveland’s latest blog all about smoking that will hopefully inspire you to make a change.

How Does Smoking Affect Your Lungs?

You may think that the occasional cigarette is no big deal, but did you know that thousands of chemicals travel to your major organs in just a single inhale of cigarette smoke? In 10 seconds, your lungs, heart and liver are being exposed to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals like nicotine. These chemicals eventually leave behind tar in your lungs that can make it hard to breathe normally, which will impact all of your organs over time.

Your lungs aren’t the only part of your body at risk when you smoke. Smoking diminishes your hearing and vision, makes your teeth turn yellow and rot faster, and can cause your hair to thin out. In addition, your skin can sag and early wrinkles can appear. If that’s not bad enough, serious and even deadly diseases can develop over a lifetime of smoking.

Diseases Associated With Chronic Tobacco Use

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Lung cancer
• Heart disease
• Emphysema

When Will I Start to Feel Better After Smoking?

Your body will benefit every day that you don’t pick up a cigarette. Your sense of taste and smell will return, your skin and teeth will look better, and your risk of developing those above diseases stops rising. Over time, your lungs can even start to clear of that tar buildup.

Your family will even start to feel better and experience the benefits of a smoke-free household. When you smoke, your kids and your partner are at an increased risk of experiencing respiratory issues, asthma and even certain diseases, even if they themselves never pick up a cigarette. Quitting helps create cleaner and healthier air for your entire family. You can do it!

Choosing Your First Step Toward Quitting

• Find your reason why.
• Research different medication options.
• Consider counseling.
• Surround yourself with positive support.

We are always here for you. Stop by AFC Urgent Care Cleveland any day of the week.