Everybody in life has certain habits they adhere to. Over a period of time that habit becomes their identity. People will remember you by your habits. Who was Gandhi? He was a principled man who believed in non violence and ahimsa. Who was Hitler? He is very crude man who lived by his own principles. Who is Shahrukh Khan? He is a very good actor who’s come up the hard way and has done very well for himself, but what else do they say about him… that he is a chain smoker? The point here is not who is right or wrong and we have no right in analyzing somebody else’s life; not in the least those who have made a place for themselves already in this world. We need to focus on our life and make sure we do the best with what we have been blessed with. I’m sure everybody will agree with me when I say we all have our own battles to fight without the need to complicate our lives further.

To everybody out there who has adopted smoking in their lifestyle, I have this to ask? Is the habit really that worth it? It may help you relieve your stress, but in the process it is harming you and those around you. The tolerance for smoking is reducing at an alarming rate. People want it to be banned from public places; girls and guys don’t want smokers as their life partners; awareness is increasing and when you outweigh the pros and cons can you seriously tell me that the pros do not in any way even come close to the long, long, very long list of cons. I agree this is not a neutral article as the name suggests but I really do fail to understand why anybody would want to pay these companies manufacturing this harmful product. Let’s go through the facts which tell us about the various cons about continuing smoking.

Do we all know what exactly is contained in cigarettes?
• Nicotine- this has addictive properties like cocaine etc only to a milder degree. People undergo withdrawal symptoms when they don’t smoke for a while and depend on the cigarette to feel “normal”.
• Tar and 4000 other harmful chemicals contained in each cigarette keep accumulating in the lungs and the blood vessels each time a person smokes only preparing the body for a lot of future turmoil.
• Carbon monoxide- is like the antidote to oxygen…. But wait a minute… oxygen is good for the body; it is essential and required so if oxygen is compared to “life” its antidote should be compared to….???

What are the various medical conditions one could expect to get if one continues smoking??
• Firstly there are a whole bunch of cancers one can get due to the deposition of tar and the other various other carcinogens… lung cancer being the most common. Other cancers include- mouth, nose, throat, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, cervix, blood (leukemia), and kidney.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Heart disease
• Circulation difficulties- aneurysms, atheroma’s.
• Sexual problems like impotence and difficulties in maintaining an erection which maybe a very irritating and frustrating experience.
• Smokers age faster. So one can expect to look older than their age.
• Both men and women become less fertile. And women attain menopause earlier not to mention the harmful effects on the baby during pregnancy.
• Smoking increases the risk of the following conditions and may also worsen the symptoms : Asthma, colds, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, optic neuritis, Crohn’s disease, Optic neuropathy, cataract, macular degeneration, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Reynaud’s phenomenon.
• More important causes of smoking need to be dealt upon here
> Smoking leaves not only your breath stinking of it but it’s very difficult to get the smell off your hair and clothes and everything else on you.
>Your teeth become yellow and look bad, your lips become black, your face looks all old and really does not in any way add to an appealing look with it in your hands. Taste and smell are impaired too if the above isn’t enough.
>Potential friendships and romances definitely suffer due to smoking even more now more than ever as the awareness of primary and secondary smoking is increasing. Passive smokers are equally if not more at a risk to develop all the above mentioned conditions so why would they voluntarily want to give you the option of reducing their lifespan. You should definitely think of them atleast before you fire up a cigarette each time.
>Smoking is not only an addictive habit but it also an expensive one; not just with buying cigarettes but did you know that life insurance costs more as well? Did you know that employers prefer non smokers as they tend to take lesser sick leaves? So as the days go by finding a job may get more difficult than they already are due to something which isn’t worth holding onto.

I smoke… now I want to quit… am I being benefitted in anyway??

Why not? Life gives everyone another chance. The time of onset and the amount of smoking is very important to know the kind of relief one will get when they stop. The sooner you realize your folly and give in the better.
The risks ameliorate straight away. No matter what age you give up, you reduce your risk of getting serious disease. If one has been smoking since his teens and he/she decides to quit smoking now; it’s a good decision and the statistics vary according to when that “now” comes about:
- If you stop smoking before the age of about 35, your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked.
- If you stop smoking before the age of 50, you decrease the risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by 50%.
Some other more obvious findings in people who quit smoking are of course:
Chest infections and colds become less frequent.
The smell of stale tobacco goes from your breath, clothes, hair, and face.
Foods and drinks taste and smell much better.
Finances improve.
You are likely to feel good about yourself. [Assured!!]

How could I quit smoking after this long? Is it possible? Is it Achievable? How?
There are various institutes, doctors, drugs and people who dedicate their entire life to educate the masses around about the harmful effects of smoking and help get rid of the nasty habit. They provide you with tips on how to quit smoking and other details. You can find some quit smoking tips here.
Information about the modes that people choose in the cessation of smoking which depends on each individual will be provided by the appropriate professionals.
It is not easy to stop smoking. You have to be persistent and encouraged. But once you really make up your mind, you’ll find even years later when you’re sitting on the portico playing with your grandchildren you’ll be grateful and happy that you’re still alive and did everything in your will to ensure a long and healthy life.

It’s good to live each day as it comes but at the same time it helps to be aware of the future that’s waiting to unfold in your life, your very own life..
I very sincerely urge each one of you out there to just spend a few moments to think about the consequences of firing up that cigarette and placing it in your mouth before doing so and ask yourself……. Is it really worth it????