It can be tough for smokers and non-smokers alike to get to grips with the issues surrounding the substance and habit of smoking but, as the saying goes, history can teach us a lot. Over the years, smoking has had a significant impact on communities, culture, and individuals, so it can be tough to track down exactly where smoking begins and culture, habit, and personal freedom end. Nowadays the addictive pass-time is more controversial than ever, as widely accepted medical reports have conclusively proven the impact of smoking on individuals, and the previously unimagined impact of secondary smoke inhalation. With that in mind, any research of the subject should begin with an understanding of its origins.

The story of tobacco and smoking begins many thousands of years ago in pre-historic America. Scientists predict that tobacco began growing in the form we recognize back in 6000BC, though this is educated guess work at best. It is widely thought that the recreational and religious use of the plant followed shortly after, with burning and chewing of the leaves commonplace in Mayan culture. This use spread to other Native American civilizations, and the entire continent was enjoying tobacco and smoking in short order.

This tribal smoking habit was kept up without interference or alteration for roughly 3000 years, but things changed when the European and Asian nations found the Americas. Rodriguez De Jerez - an explorer with Columbuss party - became the first non Native American smoker to taste tobacco, enjoying it so much that he bought a good quantity back to Spain, only to be locked up when he attempted to smoke it in public. So the controversial nature of smoking was born, and perhaps even the bad boy smoker image.

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Even though we have been lectured on bad effects of smoking for over forty years, the sad truth has yet reached the ears of all smokers. Even worse, as thousands of people take up smoking every year, many of them even before they turn 21, this addiction is far from being cured.

First, let’s discuss what you won’t get from smoking. First of all, it is not pleasant. The initial relaxing effects of nicotine wear off soon after you start smoking, leaving you with nothing but an expensive habit. Then, it does not help improve your image. You may feel more adult, but yellow teeth and bad breath make you look sick rather than “macho”.

Smoking Kills. Really

First of all, you must understand the scale of the problem. Almost half-million people die every year because of smoking, mainly due to lung cancer and other respiratory problems. The cigarette smoke contains over 4000 harmful chemical compounds, almost a hundred of them are known to trigger cancer. In other words, we are willingly performing mass murder on ourselves - and we even pay for the chance of getting killed!

Smoking however, does much more than just cause lung cancer. It affects also the heart making it more probable to have a stroke, and increasing chances for developing allergies, respiratory problems such as asthma and other chronic diseases. This may happen both to smokers themselves, and to those who only inhale the smoke, for example children of smoking parents.

We may say of course, that people are free to do whatever they want, even if they harm themselves. Of course that true - we live in a free country anyway - but the problem is that one of the main victims of our bad habits are our children. OR, to tell the truth, parents and children alike. First of all, cigarette smoke may cause infertility both in males and females. Then, a woman who breaths in cigarette smoke during pregnancy sentence their children to suffer from the respiratory problems for the rest of their life. In more extreme cases, smoking during pregnancy may also cause premature infant deaths and early deliveries.

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Quitting smoking has so many benefits which will vary from person to person. Understanding how it will benefit you best is a great goal and good for motivation. Use these advantages to remind you why you wanted to stop smoking so when the going gets tough, you are prepared. A huge benefit for everyone will be an improved healthier lifestyle.

Your health is probably the greatest advantage from quitting smoking. Health problems like heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure risks are decreased. It will take some time before the risk goes down that will vary person to person but your health should show signs of improvement. You will be in better physical health and be able to breathe better.

Money is a great advantage to quitting smoking. Did you know that the average smoker spends over $1800 a year on cigarettes? By not spending the money for buying cigarette, you have increased your budget. Maybe you would like to spend the money on new furniture, a sports car or pay off old debts. Investing the money in mutual funds or in a savings account will maximize your benefits.

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There are some smoking facts that showed the smoking effect on us. And these smoking facts can be help in quit smoking as a strong reason to show how stop smoking health benefits.

According to the world health organization, smoking causes more deaths and disability than any other disease.

The health effects of smoking tobacco are severe, and secondhand smoke also affects those around you. Most smokers are aware of the risks for lung disease and cardiovascular disease, but smoking affects nearly every organ in your body. Research has shown that smoking causes more than 25 different diseases.

The following are the smoking facts that containing information on health risks due to smoking.

Lung Cancer Risk
- Increases from 50 to 100 percent for each cigarette you smoke everyday.

Heart Disease Risk
- Increase 100 percent for each pack of cigarette you smoke per day.

Switching to Filter-tip Cigarette
- Reduces risk of lung cancer by 20 percent.

Time at Hospital
- Smokers spend 27 percent more time at hospitals and more than twice as much time in intensive care units than non-smokers.

Shortened Life-span
- Each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 5 to 20 minutes.

Death
- Compared to a non-smoker, a smoker is at twice the risk of dying before the age of sixty-five.

Death in US Attributed to Smoking
- Lung cancer = 85 - 90%

- Bronchitis and emphysema = 85%

- Mouth cancer = 70%

- Throat cancer = 50%

- Bladder cancer = 30 - 50%

- Esophagus cancer = 20 - 40%

- Pancreas cancer = 35%

- Arteriosclerosis = 33%

- Heart disease = 30%

- Kidney disease = 15 - 25%

Pregnant Women Who Smoke
- Risk of babies’ deaths during or before birth is 27% higher for smoking mothers.

- Carbon dioxide from cigarette passes freely from mother’s circulatory system to baby’s bloodstream, and decreases the baby’s oxygen level.

- Nicotine increases catecholamines, the hormones that narrow the baby’s arteries and limit the blood flow.

By now, we all know that smoking is bad for us. So, what are you waiting for? Quit smoking now for health benefits by using stop smoking herb!

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One of the obvious quitting smoking effect is people who stop smoking gain weight. In a personal capacity, I did not encounter any problem with additional weight gain using stop smoking herb method.

Stop smoking herb method does not call for any substitution like candies or chewing gum. The feeling of anxiety through the absence of cigarette did not arise as I always have the pack with me should I really want to smoke, which I don’t of course.

Obviously the additional weight gain experienced by those who quit smoking could come from two sources:

- Consumption of candies and chocolates as substitute for smoking.

- Better appetite due to improved sense of taste and smell.

Research on smoking indicated that most smokers who managed to quit would experience a weight gain of less than 5 kilograms. However, ten percent of those who quit can gain as mush as 15 kilograms of extra weight.

In view of the above, it is not surprising that there are quite a number of smokers, especially women who refuse or are reluctant to quit due to the weight related concerns.

Here are several ways that should be considered by those who are concerned about the possible weight gain as a result of the quit smoking plan:

Exercise to control weight

Exercise is a healthy activity and can also help an ex-smoker to keep his mind odd cigarettes. There are many books and materials that can be obtained on this subject. The exercises can be done at home, at the gym or outdoor.

Outdoor exercise like brisk walking and jogging are better options as what an ex-smoker need would be to burn calories, improve respiration and regulate blood flow. Such activities are also good ways for an ex-smoker - enjoying healthy living, breathing fresh air and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Controlled sugar intake

Sweets and chocolates are popular substitutes for the nicotine found in cigarettes by those who are on quit smoking programs.

An uncontrolled intake of sweet things would obviously lead to additional weight problem. The urge for sweet things can be substituted using sugar substitutes, eating fruits or drinking fruit juices.

Fear of weight gain should not prevent a person from quitting smoking. The health risks of smoking are far greater than the health risks of a small short-term weight gain when quit smoking is success.