If I Stop Smoking, Can I Prevent Lung Cancer?

If you have been a smoker and have decided to quit, congratulations!

If you have already stayed away from inhaling tobacco for a significant amount of time, take a bow!

Smoking is undoubtedly one of the bad habits that one should stay away from. For many, taking a puff starts as a hobby, a peer-pressure habit or a way to relieve stress; however, little do they know - smoking can take an immense toll on the overall well-being.

One of the main health concerns often reported among those compulsive and occasional smokers - alike is Lung Cancer. Smoking, besides this potentially fatal condition, also leads to poor cardiovascular health, chronic ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid gland dysfunction, hearing and vision loss, severe respiratory infections, and of course various other types of cancers, to mention a few.

Believe it or not, bidding goodbye to cigarettes leaves you with immense positive effects. And following are those amazing bh3>

• Within 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse have returned to normal.
• Quitting smoking makes way for the oxygen in your blood to return to normal levels.
• Within 24 hours, you have already reduced the risk of getting a heart attack significantly. What’s more, in the next three days, you are breathing easy!
• In the next one to two weeks, your breathing pattern has become super better and your lungs have great energy. You are also walking better.
• You are not coughing up mucus or phlegm anymore.
• Within a year, the functioning of the lungs has improved greatly. In three years, you wont stand the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Will Quitting Smoking Reduce The Risk of Lung Cancer?

Of course! It does – in ways you cannot imagine. Within five years of quitting, your risk of getting affected by lung cancer has been cut down to half, compared to your smoking days. And after a decade, it’s even better. The risk of getting lung cancer is equal to a non-smoker as the cells in your lungs are totally replaced by healthy ones.

That’s not all. You may not be at the risk of other cancers like esophagus, kidney, bladder, head and neck, pancreas anymore.

How to Quit Smoking?

Letting the cigarette go away is not easy, but it is not impossible either. There are countless instances where compulsive smokers have kissed goodbye to this habit, and you can do it too!

Motivation Is Key:

There are ample reasons to quit smoking in anybody’s life. It is your own health to start with and spare your family, friends from second-hand smoke. Get inspired to have a happy, healthy life sans any severe health conditions, including cancer, stroke, cardiovascular diseases etc. These factors will certainly motivate you to give up the habit.

Seek Support:

Smoking is not just a habit; it is an addiction for many. If you are unable to do it on your own, seek help and support. There is no shame in approaching a doctor or a counsellor, who can guide you through dos and don’ts whenever the craving for a cigarette hits you.

HCG has a comprehensive tobacco cessation programme, wherein our cessation specialists use evidence-based approaches to help individuals to quit tobacco and lead a happy and healthy life.

Nicotine Therapy:

If you have been smoking for a long time, it can be quite challenging to toss the cigarette out of your life and stay sane. That’s a fact, and withdrawal symptoms like severe mood swings, headaches, low energy levels, etc., will make you get tempted for it more and more. Few doctors suggest ‘nicotine replacement therapy’ where nicotine-based gums are given to beat those cravings and settle withdrawal symptoms.

Do It Gradually:

Stay practical and accept the limitations. If you are a habitual smoker dragging at least 10 cigarettes a day, start with cutting down on numbers per day. Slash the number of cigarettes by half, reduce it further gradually. Try chewing on nuts, chocolates and fruits whenever the craving hits you. You will be able to get over it in no time.

Avoid Other Triggers:

In many cases, smoking and alcohol consumption go hand-in-hand. It is hard to resist smoking while consuming alcohol, and the trick is to restrict or limit it too! Try getting a new hobby and develop a passion for some art form to keep your mind occupied.

Bottom Note

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both males and females, worldwide and is often caused due to smoking. Smokers are at the highest risk of this potentially fatal health condition, and treating it requires world-class medical expertise. It happens when cancer cells grow in these vital respiratory organs, blocking the airways and ultimately leading to death. Early diagnosis and the proper course of treatment help in saving the life.

If you are a smoker, say nay to it now to escape lung cancer!

If you are having a hard time quitting tobacco, you can consider the above-discussed measures in order to control your urge to pull a cigarette and thereby reduce your cancer risk.