More Reasons to Quit Smoking

If lowering your risk of lung cancer and emphysema, saving money and not having to brace the elements to get your nicotine fix is not enough, below are a few more reasons to kick the habit.


* Researchers at the University of Western Australia found that smokers are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-smokers.

* Smokers are three to four times more likely to develop one of the most common forms of skin cancer. Doctors at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands analyzed the lifestyles of 580 men and women with different types of skin cancer. They discovered that smokers were three to four times more likely to develop "squamous cell cancer". One to 10 cigarettes a day increased the risk almost 2 1/2 times; 11 to 20 raised the risk three times and 20 or more cigarettes a day quadrupled the risk.

* According to a study in the journal Nature Genetics, toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause a woman’s eggs to die prematurely resulting in an increased chance of fertility problems or early menopause.

* In a study published in the Journal of Rheumatology, smoking everyday was associated with a 60% increase in the risk of arthritis compared to the risk for those with no history of smoking. After eliminating the effects of other factors that can contribute to arthritis risk, researchers found a definite link between past or present smoking and a higher risk of developing arthritis.

* Smoking causes wrinkles. According to research, cigarette smoke interferes with the body's ability to renew skin and causes premature aging.