Cigarettes are full of poisons
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. As well as tar and nicotine, there is also the gas carbon monoxide (found in car exhaust fumes), ammonia (found in floor cleaner) and arsenic (found in rat poison). At least 60 of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to cause cancer, including of the lung, throat, mouth, bladder and kidneys. Tobacco smoke also causes a number of other diseases.
Nicotine is the addictive drug in tobacco. The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, and narrows small blood vessels under your skin. It slows your blood flow, reducing oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs amputated.
Tar is made up of many chemicals, including gases and substances that cause cancer. It coats your lungs like soot in a chimney. Changing to low-tar cigarettes doesn't help because smokers usually take deeper puffs and hold the smoke in for longer, dragging the tar deeper into their lungs.
Carbon monoxide robs your muscles, brain and body tissue of oxygen, making your whole body - especially your heart - work harder. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs.
Reasons to quit
Every cigarette you don’t smoke is doing you good. There are many health benefits to quitting, some of which you’ll be able to notice within hours or days. Similarly, within days, you’ll also notice the extra money in your pocket you’ve saved from quitting.
Ways to quit
Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things a person can do. Most smokers' say they would like to quit, and may have tried at least once. These tips and facts will assist you in quitting for good.
Help and support
Quitting smoking can be hard, but you’re not alone. Quitline and Quit Coach can offer the support and guidance you need to quit for good.
Quit Now Calculator
Use the online calculator to see how much money you could save if you quit smoking. The calculator provides you with a range of goals, and the time it would take you to reach them.