The smoke and mirrors of cigarettes
Once upon a time it was believed that smoking cigarettes was actually good for our health. However, since the mid 20th century the data has shown clear evidence that inhaling cigarette smokes is among the unhealthiest habits one can indulge in.
Of course, in 2022, virtually all smokers aren’t unaware of their bad habit. For many, a cigarette is how they deal with the stress and anxieties of their daily lives, but the solution is not at the butt end of the cigarette. Whether you’re smoking to destress or even socially, these are some surprising reasons to quit today for a longer tomorrow.
Smoking makes stress worse
The common myth that smoking helps relieve and ease feelings of stress has many ‘self-medicating’. But nicotine, in reality, creates an illusion of relief when first smoking, a temporary reprieve that disappears after a while, actually causing your heart rate and blood pressure to spike. The cycle repeats itself when you take another smoke, and each time worsens the withdrawal.
Smoking makes ageing worse
No one likes to look older than they are, and by smoking, you’re actively making yourself age. Smoking dries out your skin by holding in toxins, making wrinkles more prominent and hair thinner. It is also common knowledge that a lot of smokers have darkening teeth and brittle, yellow nails. Research has shown that it takes 8 hours post cigarette for the levels of nicotine and carbon monoxide in the blood to drop back to normal levels so that oxygen levels in the blood can return to normal.
Smoking makes sex worse
Failing sexual health can make life a lot harder. Smoking decreases the circulation of oxygen in the body, which can lead to in a reduction in sensitivity and an inability for the body to perform as it should. More specifically, there is a close correlation between smoking and erectile dysfunction because the narrowing of the arteries caused by smoking makes it harder for blood to pass through the penis.
As a result, men can find it more tricky to gain and maintain an erection during intercourse. In fact, men who smoke heavily are 60% more likely to suffer from ED. While there are erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra available through online pharmacies such as PostMyMeds, there is no doubt that kicking the habit is the better course of action.
Women who smoke also statistically experience more fertility issues and problems during pregnancy than those who don’t smoke.
Smoking makes food worse
Sensitivity also extends to taste and smell, which you lose the more you smoke. If you’re wondering why your favourite foods aren’t tasting as good as they used to, it’s not the seasonings or the ingredients! Tobacco’s chemicals are known to structurally change your tastebuds, so your meals will start to be less and less enjoyable. This means that by indulging in this habit you are also denying yourself the joy of truly enjoying delicious meals.
Smoking makes finances worse
It’s no secret that financial issues can often be the root cause of stress in the average person’s life, and smoking is no cheap habit. The average smoker who consumes a pack a day, spends roughly £4.8k a year. In fact, the cost of smoking cigarettes has more than doubled in the last decade.
That money could be better spent on luxuries such as holidays, spa breaks and other activities that could truly relax you. Of course, everyone has the option to spend their money as they see fit – but it really is difficult to see the positives of maintaining this particular habit.
