| Smoking is an Expensive Habit |
Find out how much your smoking habit is costing you.
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Stop Smoking
If you smoke, you probably already know it’s bad for you. Smoking contributes
to the development of cardiovascular disease, stroke, various cancers and
lung disease. In women, it also increases the chance for early menopause,
osteoporosis and infertility. And smoking is expensive.
Not only does it cost the United States approximately $97.2 billion per year
in health care costs and lost productivity, it’s bad for your financial
health, too.
Tips for Quitting
Get ready. Write down your reasons
for quitting and read them daily. Next, condition your body by exercising, getting enough
sleep and reducing your stress. Finally, set a target date for quitting,
announce it to friends and ask them for support.
Change your environment. Start living like a nonsmoker.
Throw away all your cigarettes and ashtrays, and don’t allow people
to smoke in your home. Remove smoking odors from your clothes, home and car.
Consider getting your teeth cleaned to remove tobacco stains.
Learn your triggers. Figure out when and why you smoke
and plan ahead to deal with those situations.
Know what to expect. During the first week your body is
still dependent on nicotine. You may experience temporary weight gain, irregularity,
trouble sleeping or sore gums and tongue. You may feel edgy, hungry, tired
or short-tempered. You may find you cough more often as your lungs remove
phlegm.
Get help if you need it. Some people find it easier to
quit with nicotine gums, nasal sprays, inhaler devices or patches, because
they help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Reward yourself. Your decision to stop smoking is one of
the most important health decisions you’ll ever make. Think of different
ways to treat yourself each day, week, month or year that you are smoke free – using
the money you saved by not buying cigarettes. Of course, you’re already
rewarding yourself with the best gift of all – a longer, healthier life.
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