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Why Is it So Hard to Quit Smoking for Some People Given the Risks to Their Health?

You may think that quitting smoking is a no-brainer because of the data that show the habit kills thousands of people each year, and also puts many others at risk of cancer and other ailments. However, smoking is a habit that many find difficult to kick despite the many known risks it poses to a person's health.

  1. It's Addictive

    • The simplest reason that smoking is difficult to quit is that nicotine, the chemical in cigarettes that stimulates pleasure receptors in the brain, is a very addictive substance. If a smoker quits cold turkey, he will feel physical withdrawal symptoms, which may send him fleeing back to the comfortable feeling of taking a drag on a cigarette. Withdrawal symptoms include flu-like aches, irritability, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, headaches, coughing and sore throat, among others.

    It's Psychological

    • Smoking is a pleasurable experience for smokers in certain situations in particular. For example, people often smoke a cigarette during a break, after a meal, while socializing or while drinking. Engaging these activities without smoking may cause smokers to miss that cigarette and give them the urge to reach for one. Overcoming these psychological boundaries can be just as difficult as dealing with the physical symptoms.

    It's Genetic

    • People may be predisposed to smoking genetically. Studies show that genetics may affect numerous aspects of smoking, such as the urge to start smoking, continue to do so and the ability to quit smoking. Also, being around family members who smoke may make a person more likely to pick up the cigarette, or he might have difficulty quitting when everyone around him is still puffing away.

    It's Easy to Relapse

    • It takes awhile to quit smoking. Usually it takes about eight to 12 weeks for the withdrawal symptoms to subside significantly. For those who find the change extremely difficult, it is very easy to stop by the convenience store, buy a pack and light up. The ease of relapse weighed against the difficulty of staying the course can strongly affect a person's chance of successfully quitting.

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