Why It's Important to Quit Women smoke for different reasons. Some women smoke to deal with stress or control weight. Younger women may start smoking to rebel, show independence, or be accepted by their peers. But there is never a good reason to smoke. Health Reasons to Quit Smoking causes serious health problems, including: cancers of the lung, throat, mouth, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, and stomach leukemia (a cancer of blood-forming tissues) lung diseases atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries heart attacks stroke gum disease eye diseases that can lead to blindness
Smoking also: makes illnesses last longer causes more wound infections after surgery makes it harder to get pregnant increases your risk of getting a hip fracture Smoking during pregnancy is especially dangerous. Smoking while pregnant can cause: placenta previa — the placenta grows too close to the opening of the uterus or womb. As a result, the baby cannot be delivered through the vagina and must be delivered by cesarean section, or C-section. placental abruption — the placenta separates too early from the wall of the uterus. This can lead to early labor or infant death. early rupture of membranes, or water breaking, before labor starts, so the baby is born too early a baby with a low birth weight damage to an infant's lungs Why does birth weight matter?
Low birth weight babies are more likely to die or have serious health problems. They are also more likely to have long-term disabilities, such as problems seeing or hearing. |
Other Benefits of Quitting When you quit, you will never again have to leave your workplace, your home, or other places to smoke. Over time, you will see some of the other benefits of quitting: your teeth will be cleaner your breath will smell better the stain marks on your fingers will fade your skin is less wrinkled you are able to smell and taste things better You will also feel stronger and be able to be more active.
Last updated September 17, 2007
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