Smoking: Habit or Addiction?

source link::https://www.quitterscircle.com/how-to-quit/smoking-habit-or-addiction

Did you know that the nicotine in cigarettes is addictive? That's right, your smoking isn't just a habit - it's an addiction. This is an important issue to confront-and the facts can help you face it with confidence.

Check out these scenarios, and see which ones may hit a little too close to home:

Do you smoke your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning? Do you smoke 20 cigarettes (a pack) or more in one day?
At times when you can't smoke or don't have any cigarettes, do you feel an urge to smoke?
Is it tough for you to keep from smoking for more than a few hours?
When you are sick enough to stay in bed, do you still smoke?
If one or more of these sound familiar, you may be addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes.

Smoking harms nearly every organ in your body and is responsible for one in five deaths in the United States. Quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of developing smoking-related diseases. Quitting smoking also reduces the risk of early death. Although the benefits are greater the earlier you quit, you are never too old to benefit from quitting. If you smoke cigarettes, now is the time to reach out to a doctor or healthcare provider to learn about treatment options that may help you quit.

Smoking isn't a bad habit, it's an addiction, so admitting that you're addicted to cigarettes is nothing to be ashamed of. With the help of family, friends, and a healthcare provider. quitting is possible.