Over 10 million people in the UK still smoke. Why quit smoking? Is the fact that around 100,000 people in the UK alone die each year from smoking-related causes not enough?!
Maybe these other reasons, will make you think again!
Head. Your hair smells! You can lose your hair. You can lose your hearing. It can cause glue ear, eye irritation, cataracts, blindness, loss of sense of smell.
Brain. As your arteries are narrowed by smoking, it can increase your risk of stroke, resulting in possible paralysis and loss of speech. Smoking reduces your supply of oxygen to the brain resulting in headaches, mood changes and panic attacks.
Lungs. The list of damage to your lungs is endless: Bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, coughs and colds, wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma, pleurisy, cancer to name but a few.
Heart. Narrowed arteries, thickened blood, aortic aneurysm, angina and heart attack. Smokers are more than twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease as non-smokers. One in six heart disease deaths and nearly one in 10 stroke deaths can be attributed to smoking.
Bones. Female smokers are more likely than non-smokers to suffer from osteoporosis (loss of bony tissue resulting in brittle bones that are liable to fracture) before reaching the menopause.
Reproduction system and fertility. In men, reduced sperm count, and increased impotence, particularly in men in their 30s and 40s. An increased risk of testicular cancer is also a prominent feature of smokers. In women it can cause reduced fertility, and increase of miscarriage incidents plus contributing to the increase of babies being born underweight.
Let’s face it, there’s lots of reasons why it’s a good idea to stop smoking!
As a Dental Practice, we are obviously concerned with the effects that smoking can have on your oral health. Gum disease and tooth loss are the most common things we see everyday in patients who smoke, not to mention the unpleasantness of tobacco-stained teeth and foul-smelling breath. Smoking can also cause Cancer of the lips, tongue, throat, larynx and oesophagus. A dental hygienist as well as your own dentist can help you by giving advice on how to quit smoking. If you attend your dentist regularly, they can also help spot oral health problems in smokers earlier - by checking tongue, lips and cheeks for any red or white marks or abrasions or ulcers that haven’t cleared up for 3 weeks or more.
Smokers come from all walks of life, each with their own reasons for wanting to quit. For some it’s part of a lifestyle change – to be healthier and fitter. For others, it’s more about how their smoking affects the people around them – their family and little ones. If you haven’t yet found your reason for quitting, don’t leave it until its too late!
For further information or advice contact College Street Dental Centre in Petersfield, Hampshire on 01730 263180
