 November 16 is the Great American Smokeout, a national day for people to commit to quitting smoking, chewing, or vaping, or to encourage and support loved ones who wish to quit. Quitting can be hard, but it is possible with the right support. Not sure if you are ready to quit and need some more reasons before you commit on Nov, 16? There are many, but we made a list of some of the biggest ones.
It’s better for your health. Smoking, vaping, or chewing are bad for your health in several ways. Smoking causes lung disease, many kinds of cancer, heart disease, and more. Chewing is known to cause oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease, and vaping causes lots of new lung diseases, lung irritation, and many other effects we are still learning about. No matter how long you’ve been smoking, vaping, or chewing, quitting can improve your health within days. For example, after a few years of being smoke-free, your risk for some diseases may lower to the same level as for a non-smoker! You can’t forget about the impact nicotine has on your mental health, either. Nicotine is shown to make depression and anxiety worse, and although some people think it lessens stress, it may make feelings of stress worse too.
It’s better for the health of other people, too. Exposure to secondhand smoke and vapor can be harmful, especially for children and older adults. Children who live with people who smoke or vape have a higher chance of getting asthma, getting sick, and having other ear, eye, throat, and lung problems. Don’t forget about pets, too, who also suffer when their owners smoke or vape. By quitting, you’re not only protecting your own health but the health of people and animals around you.
You’ll save money. Whether you smoke, chew, or vape, these products are expensive. Quitting will put money back in your pocket to save or spend on other things. The minimum price you can expect to pay for cigarettes in Colorado is $7 per pack, with an average cost between $8 and $10. For vaping, you can expect to spend anywhere from $12 to $25 per disposable pod pack or single use vape. So, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes per day, you can expect to spend anywhere from $2,548 to $3,640 per year...and if you use three entire vapes per week, you can expect to spend anywhere between $1,872 to $3,900 in one year. That money could have been used to buy one to two Pumpkin Cream Cold Brews from Starbucks, per day. Or, you could have bought between 26 and 55 new video games!
You’ll help the environment. Smoking and vaping are bad for the environment in many ways, but let’s focus on litter for a moment. Cigarette butts are one of the most littered items in the world, and vaping waste is becoming more and more common. How often do you see cigarette butts, vape pods, disposable vapes, or cartons laying around? A lot more than we should. Quitting can help prevent toxic chemicals from getting into waterways, prevent animals from eating cigarette or e-waste, and keep our communities cleaner.
So, tell us, what are your reasons for quitting? When quitting gets hard, remember the reasons why you are doing it and keep going.
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