The single best thing you can do for your health and your future is to quit smoking. Even if you're already living with a smoking-related illness, quitting has some major benefits. Here's how you can reduce your risk and improve your health by stopping smoking:
Reduces your risk of cancer
Tobacco smoking is the largest preventable cause of cancer and is responsible for one in every five cancer deaths.
It increases your risk of at least 16 different types of cancer, including:
- Lung
- Mouth (oral cavity)
- Throat (pharynx)
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Bowel
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Nasal cavity and sinuses
- Voice box (larynx)
- Cervix
- Ovary
- Bladder
- Kidney
- Ureter
- Bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia).
Support cancer recovery
If you've been diagnosed with cancer, quitting smoking can improve your treatment outcomes. It can reduce side effects from chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. It can also decrease the risk of secondary cancers and increase your chances of recovery and survival.
Lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease
Smoking increases your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases. Compared to people who have never smoked, smoking can:
- At least double your risk of a heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
- Almost triple your risk of a fatal heart attack.
- Increase your risk of peripheral arterial disease by five-times, which can lead to complications like gangrene.
More than one-third of CVD deaths before the age of 65 are caused by smoking. The good news is that quitting at any age will benefit your cardiovascular system.
Reduces your risk of lung disease
Tobacco smoke exposes your airways and lungs to high levels of the toxic chemicals found, increasing your risk of:
- Asthma flair ups
- Respiratory infections, like bronchitis, influenza and pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Improves your mental health
Smoking is a highly addictive behaviour that can have a negative impact on your mental health. People who smoke are twice as likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to non-smokers. Whether you have a mental health diagnosis or not, quitting smoking can have a positive impact on your mood.
Quitting smoking is associated with mental health benefits, including:
- Significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress.
- Improvement in mood and psychological quality of life.
- Enhanced capacity to cope with life stressors.
By quitting, you're reducing these long-term risks, and you can live a much healthier and active lifestyle. Although it can be tough at first, once you quit you will feel a boost in confidence and a great sense of achievement.
