97 Reasons To Quit Smoking ~ #'s 1 - 20

1. You won't have to pay more and more and more and more each year.Yup, taxes will almost certainly continue to go up. New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut are among the states leaning harder on smokers for revenue, but even some tobacco-growing states are beginning to milk the coffin-nail cash cow. Lawmakers' reasoning: There is evidence that price increases cause smokers to reduce consumption. And the medical costs of smoking are astronomical—a huge burden to the states.

2. You'll inhale fewer germs.New research suggests cigarettes are loaded with germs, which can be inhaled along with the smoke. It’s not clear if the germs can make you sick, but the yuck factor is undeniable.

3. You'll be smarter than Goofy."No Smoking" is a superb 1951 Disney cartoon depicting the history of tobacco use and, in modern times, Goofy's addiction and attempt to quit (there's a hilarious Mad Men-ish scene of an office full of smokers). It ends with him smoking an exploding cigar as the narrator concludes: "Give the smoker enough rope and he'll hang on to his habit." 4. Once you quit, you'll find it more amusing that tobacco soup smells like s**t.Or at least that's what kids at a Washington state elementary school said when Teens Against Tobacco Use visited their class in 2008 and mixed up a concoction of cigarette ingredients.
5. Smoking can cramp your style in the bedroom.Smoking can affect circulation; with less blood flow to your genitals, arousal for bout men and women can be more difficult.

6. Sever yourself from the sordid history of animal testing in smoking research.Smoking-related cancer researchers have long used animals as test subjects, producing the famous smoking beagles photos from the 1970s, which are still used by antivivisection sites today.

7. You'll sleep better.Smokers are four times as likely to report feeling un-rested after a night's sleep, studies have found; it seems going through nicotine withdrawal each night can contribute to sleep disturbances.

8. Cool bonuses at work may be in your future.Employers are increasingly offering incentives—such as gift cards, premium discounts, or cash—to employees who participate in smoking cessation programs.

9. Quitting is a plausible excuse to play computer games.A 2008 survey commissioned by online game maker RealNetworks suggests that playing games online can help distract people from smoking.
10. Nonsmokers have stronger bones than smokers.Women smokers have been found to lose 2.3% to 3.3% of bone mineral density for every 10 pack-years of tobacco use. The effects are even worse in postmenopausal women.
11. You won't have to look at those horrible antismoking messages on cigarette packs.American messages are mild by comparison, but you have to think that this country will follow Canada, the UK, Australia, Jordan, Romania, and Uruguay by starting to put big pictures of rotting teeth, mouth cancer, and postmortem tumors right on the box.

12. That ringing in your ears will be sweet music, not just...ringing in your ears.Smokers have a nearly 70% greater likelihood of developing hearing loss than nonsmokers.
13. You'll have less chance of being labeled a wild, troubled, tragic genius.Obligatory Amy Winehouse mention here: In 2008, she emerged from the hospital with early signs of emphysema—and lit up a cigarette.

14. You'll have more dining and barhopping options on overseas vacations.England, France, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico are among the exciting destinations now 100% smoke-free in restaurants and bars.

15. You may be less likely to get psoriasis.Studies have shown that daily smoking is linked to the risk of developing psoriasis. The higher the number of cigarettes over 20 smoked per day, the greater that risk.

16. Your chance of having cold hands and feet will go down...When you quit smoking, your circulation gets better right away.
17. ...which means you can reduce your risk of frostbite.Smoking restricts circulation, which is particularly bad for the fingers and toes of those desperate people who step outside to puff in wintry climates.

18. You can drink less coffee for the same buzz—and save money.Smokers' bodies clear caffeine 56% more quickly than nonsmokers'. That's why you should cut your caffeine intake in half when you quit—or risk some serious irritability and insomnia.

19. The Pill suddenly becomes a lot safer to use.If you're on the Pill and smoke, you should cut out one or the other. The Pill is not recommended for smokers because oral contraceptives carry a risk of clots, heart attacks, and strokes; those risks are increased if you smoke.

20. Slow the progression from HIV to AIDS.HIV-positive people who smoke appear to have a faster progression time than those who don't smoke. The effect is likely a result of smoking's impact on the immune system.