Smoking: 10 reasons for parents to quit

​ Along with the slew of health benefits, there are many other reasons to quit lighting up. Here are ten convincing arguments to help you quit.

1. Help the health of people around you

Second-hand smoke is linked to a number of ailments, particularly for children. Children who are frequently exposed to second-hand smoke have higher chances of developing upper respiratory conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis, to name a few.

You are also removing the brew of smoking toxins that remain in clothes, carpets, and sofas for hours or days after a cigarette has been put out, which researchers describe as ‘third-hand smoke.’ Many parents are unaware of the hazardous effects it can have on children. Ensuring a smoke-free home eliminates third-hand smoke. 

2. Start a chain reaction

One Harvard study, which tracked more than 12,000 smokers over 32 years, found people quit smoking in groups. People are more likely to quit in groups than individually. So if you have other family members who smoke, particularly your children, you have even more incentive to quit.

In a study published in the Society of Pediatric Psychology, researchers analyzed the attitudes of 400 parents and their teens towards smoking. Unsurprisingly, they found the teens of ex-smokers were less likely to start. Talking to your teen about cigarette smoking is the first step to making sure they stay smoke-free.

3. Save money

Cigarettes are not cheap. In Canada, a pack of cigarettes can cost between $7 and $10. According to the Canadian Lung Association, no longer lighting up can save a person up to $3000 a year. This is money you can put towards more important purchases, like your child’s university education.

Calculate the real cost of your cigarettes by using Health Canada’s interactive cost calculator. 

4. Better sex

Smoking slows down the flow of blood through arteries in the body. Among the many impacts, blocked arteries can lead to impotence in men. Studies show long-term smoking is linked to erectile dysfunction.

5. Better fertility

Women who smoke have a greater risk of developing fertility issues and experiencing spontaneous abortions (miscarriage). Male smokers are also at an increased risk of experiencing fertility issues.

6. Look better

Smoking can have unattractive visible affects too. The chemicals in tobacco smoke impede the blood's ability to transport oxygen. This makes the skin more prone to wrinkles.

Tar and nicotine found inside the cigarette stain the fingernails. The smoke also discolours the skin around the nail. Smoking also blocks oxygen to the fingernails. Together, staining and diminished oxygen cause the fingernails to turn a yellow colour.

7. More energy

When we breathe, oxygen attaches to the red blood cells inside our body. This is how our body delivers energy to all the tissues in our body. But red blood cells can also bind to carbon monoxide, a lethal by-product of burning tobacco. When our tissues and muscles are getting less oxygen, we feel less energetic. This is why many ex-smokers report higher energy levels. According to the Canadian Lung Association, within six months of quitting, many ex-smokers begin to feel less tired and will not run out of breath as easily.

8. Fight back against tobacco companies

Many studies have documented the clear impact of marketing campaigns spurred by major tobacco companies. They are particularly notorious for targeting youth. National Cancer Institute published a recent report outlining the apparent evidence that tobacco companies specifically market to teens and children. Three major cigarette companies in the United States, Marlboro, Camel, and Newport, have leading ‘youth brands’, upon which their corporate livelihood depends. A 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 78% of middle school students and 87% of high-school students prefer to smoke these three brands.

9. Happier heart and lungs

Non-smokers have a much lower risk of getting many smoking-related diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In fact, within the first week of quitting, your risk of having a heart attack decreases; your lung capacity improves; and your lung function improves by 30%.

10. Recover your sense of smell and taste

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, one of the densest forms of pollution is tobacco smoking. It makes it more difficult to recognize scents and reduces the sense of taste.  According to the Canadian Lung Association, you may even begin to feel your sense of smell and taste improving after the first two days of quitting.