Why is it hard to quit smoking?
Most smokers become addicted to the nicotine contained in tobacco products. Nicotine has a deadly addictive power. When a person puffs a cigarette, nicotine particles find their way to the lungs through inhalation. From there, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream just like the oxygen people breathe. It travels with the blood to the brain where it locks onto certain receptor areas. Dopamine is then released into the brain. This is the chemical that makes the smoker feel a euphoric sensation.

This chemical reaction of dopamine with the human body is what makes smokers find it so difficult to quit because they have come to be dependent on this good feeling. And in wanting to experience this repeatedly, this leads to dependence – a sign of addiction. A viscious and deadly cycle has begun!

A person who attempts to quit may experience withdrawal symptoms. Topping the long list of withdrawal symptoms is depression. With the absence of the chemical that produces the relaxing feeling, the brain becomes distressed without it. Other withdrawal symptoms from smoking include:
- Headaches, dizziness, and nausea
- Shakes, chills
- Cough, dry throat nasal drip
- Hunger, fatigue
- Constipation, gas or stomach pain
- Insomnia, troubled sleep

Not knowing what to do with their hands is another common complaint among ex-smokers while quitting. Once people get hooked, smoking becomes a big part of their lives. They seem to enjoy holding on a stick of cigarette and puffing on them. And after a long period of lighting up, it becomes a routine. As a fact, humans are creatures of habit. By some force of habit, smokers find themselves reaching for a cigarette and lighting it up automatically without thinking about it.

Certain “triggers” in the environment may also hamper a smoker’s desire to quit. Things may turn on a smoker’s need for a cigarette. These may be feelings, places, and moods. Even the things done routinely may trigger this craving for a smoke.

For those who have been smoking for quite a while already, they may not realize it but they form some emotional attachment to cigarettes. They find the cigarette calming and comforting during those stressful times. Cigarette smoking somehow becomes an extension of their social life, particularly when they are emotionally at the highest or lowest. Giving the smoker a feeling that giving up smoking would seem like giving up a trusted friend.

These are only some of the major reasons why it is hard to quit smoking. But there are also several strategies and quitting techniques that may aid smokers to finally give up on this tenacious habit. Quitting smoking must begin with one’s intention to stop. They must have the will power to overcome the craving for smoke. There are also a lot of quit smoking products in the market. These may also be worth trying. Support groups are proved to be very helpful, too.

Smokers must understand that to quit smoking may take more than one attempt. They must also try several methods before they can finally succeed. Smoking is a stubborn habit because it is closely tied to the acts in the course of people’s everyday lives. Even so, with determination, will power, and a strategy, to quit smoking is not out of the question and we will discuss some of the methods.

The High Cost of Smoking - and it's not just money!
Smoking is an expensive vice. An ordinary smoker incurs enormous cost to sustain this unhealthy lifestyle and the costs do not pertain solely to him. There are adverse effects to the body, to the immediate family, to the society, to the environment and to the economy.

The most obvious cost of smoking is the daily, weekly and monthly expenditure of an ordinary smoker. Cigarettes now cost an average of $4.00 per pack in the US. How much more would this cost for a chain smoker?

Imagine a smoker burning a pack per day, $4.00 per day. The money burned could amount to almost $1500 in a year! That could already have sent the smoker and his love ones to a decent out-of-town vacation.

Statistics attribute the majority of the cause of death every year as a result of or as aggravated by smoking. The number of smoke related diseases such as cancer, respiratory problems and heart ailments increase yearly. Certain disabilities also result from these tobacco related diseases. It could also result in a decreased ability to enjoy physical abilities because of the ailment or side effects like breathing problems.

Reduced life expectancy, the smoker may lose 10-15 years of his or her life as a consequence.

Medical expenditures will also have to be addressed as most, if not all, smoke related illnesses require treatment, services and medication. Health care services do not always come free.

At the same time, there will be lost productivity when the ailing smoker is forced to retire to the hospital bed and refrain from working. Thus the earning capacity declines. Instead of bringing in more money to the household, the money had to be taken out. The environment of the smoker will also deteriorate because of the fumes. The car is one place where the smoker could comfortably light up a cigarette. Definitely, the interior will smell, ashes will accumulate and upholstery may get burn holes. Same thing goes if the smoker freely lights up anywhere inside his or her house.

Smoking gives a higher risk of starting a fire. Several fires had been discovered to have originated from a cigarette left lit.

Air pollution is also further aggravated. This is due to the constant release of carbon monoxide in the proximate vicinity. This contributes to the high temperature of the environment.

Smokers also harm their neighbors through secondhand smoke. Non-smokers exposed to the carbons emitted are susceptible to smoking related diseases. If these exposed non-smokers have illnesses, secondhand smoking could further aggravate the situation.
In acquiring insurance policies, there is the trend now to charge higher premiums to smokers. The vice is considered a high-risk.

Smokers who die early do not get to enjoy the fruits of their pensions. This means less social security benefits.

Cigarette smoking also affects the overall aesthetics of the person. These are offshoots of smoking that cannot be disregarded as they affect the self regard of the person and also his or her relationship with others. Rectifying these could actually cost money.
Bad breath brought about by smoking would require gum or mints to overcome the odor. The smoker may also opt for breath fresheners, which are even more expensive. Cigarette components stain the teeth.

Having yellow teeth means extra charge from the dentist aside from the usual cleaning. Smokers were also found to have darkened gums. Smoking could also effect the wrinkling of the skin earlier than the usual.

Smoke makes clothes dirty and the results often require the services of a dry cleaner to be remedied. The smoke can also result in bad smell in the skin and hair.

Smoking also has emotional costs. The dependence to smoking when one gets addicted can be very restricting. There is also the pressure to quit smoking as the smoker realizes the harmful effects to himself and to his or her family.

A person with a smoking-related disease will not be the only one who will suffer. Immediate family members and friends will definitely feel the burden of the illness. There is the constant sense of helplessness in addressing the vice and its side effects.

A lot of money has actually been reduced to ashes because of the vice. That money could in fact be saved from the actual and derivative costs only if the person stops smoking!