Thursday, May 17, 2012

Smoker's Cough Is Not an Excuse - It Is Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

Smokers have a plethora of excuses when it comes to avoiding smoking cessation. Some laud the spuriously positive benefits of smoking (haven't you heard? It makes you lose weight!) and some sink into a nihilistic pit, resigning themselves to the fact that they have already ruined their bodies. Many people who have developed a smoker's cough fall into the latter category, but they couldn't be further from the truth: smoker's cough or not, it is absolutely never too late to quit smoking! 

The moment you stop smoking, your body begins to recover from the harmful damages that tobacco has done to your body. Within the first 24 hours of quitting your blood oxygen levels increase to normal and within the first month of smoking cessation your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lung functioning begins to recover. Quitting smoking is a healing process for your body and it can be started at any time no matter how long you have smoked. With each day that passes you increase your lifespan and decrease your risks for life threatening ailments. 

If you are suffering from smoker's cough then you should know that quitting smoking will improve your condition dramatically. But you should be prepared for the fact that right after you quit smoking, your symptoms may worsen for awhile-you may find that you are coughing more and dislodging more mucus but do not be alarmed as this is normal. It takes time for your body to begin healing your lungs, but in as little as one month sinus congestion, fatigue, and coughing will decrease as the cilia in your lungs begin to grow back. Over time your lung functioning will continue to improve and so too will your cough. Your risk for lung cancer will also decrease. 

Quitting smoking will not guarantee that your body will return to the way it was before your started. Some people will still develop lung cancer and some damages are pretty hard to reverse, like emphysema. However, quitting smoking will always improve your body's functioning in comparison to the damage it has undergone from tobacco use. Since your immune system no longer has to fight the toxins from tobacco smoke, it can concentrate on fighting viruses and bacteria and in addition to improving your coughing, you will find that you are getting sick much less often. It can never be stressed enough-it is never too late to quit smoking, smoker's cough or no smoker's cough. Have the courage to put out your last cigarette today! To read more about this and other health related topics go to http://masteryourlifepower.com/