Smoke cessation is one process that many cigarette smokers would want to undertake. Upon learning about the health hazards of smoking, many people who smoke wish they didn’t because it’s extremely difficult to quit smoking.

One main reason why people couldn’t stop smoking is due to nicotine addiction. People suffering from nicotine addiction feel like they are trapped in a deadly maze that seems to be like there’s no way out. They end up living with dread and fear to the habit that they feel they couldn’t live without.

Smoking can bring serious and deadly effects to human health. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals that affect the functions of internal organs and weaken the immune system. Smoking claims 5 million human lives annually, which means that a life is lost every eight seconds. If there is such a perfect time to quit smoking it is now!

The harmful ingredients of cigarettes affect the human body in several ways. Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin of the red blood cells in which affected cells are prevented from carrying sufficient amount of oxygen thereby causing breathing difficulties. Nicotine, on the other hand, can reach the brain in seconds after puffing a cigarette. In seconds, it can affect women’s breast milk, thus threatening not only the health of pregnant women but the precarious health of their innocent baby as well.

People who smoke are also most likely to develop cancer as tobacco smoke contains carcinogens or cancer-causing agents that damage the genes that control the growth of cells resulting to abnormal and rapid growth of cancer cells. Carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene mixes in the cells in the major organs and in airways of smoking individuals. Smokers also tend to have lower level of antioxidants that are vital to the repair of the damaged cells.

Another effect of smoking is through oxidative stress. Oxidative stress not only expedites the aging process. It also contributes to the development of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic lung injuries.

In addition, smoking also affects the ability of the body to prevent infection and repair tissues, resulting in serious gum diseases like periodontitis (teeth and bone loss). Smokers are also most likely to develop peptic ulcers which, if severe, could lead to death.

Fortunately, there are several methods that could aid smoking cessation for smokers who are decisive to quit smoking. Hypnosis, for example, is one way that has been proven effective by those who succeeded in quitting smoking. It works under the theory that nicotine addiction is ninety percent psychological and that using one’s subconscious mind is a powerful tool to emancipate smokers from their life threatening habit.