Have you made quitting smoking your 2008 New Year resolution? Here are six reasons why you should.

1. You can beat premature death.

Smoking is the largest cause of preventable death in the world. Each day, seven Singaporeans die prematurely from smoking-related diseases and these include painful and debilitating diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which happen to be Singapore's top killers every year. ( Health Promotion Board, Quit4Life - Why Quit? Facts. http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=2560, 2007.) But if you do quit smoking, within a year, your risk of heart disease decreases to half that of a smoker. Stay smoke-free for five to ten years, and your risks of stroke and coronary heart disease decrease to about the same as someone who has never smoked, while your risk of lung cancer reduces to half that of a smoker.

2. You'll be harming your family and friends, not just yourself.

Before you light up your next cigarette, think of the people around you who will be inhaling the toxins you're puffing out? by up to 50 times. The smoke breathed in by passive smokers may contain three times more tar and nicotine, five times more carbon monoxide and 50 times more cancer-causing chemicals, compared to the smoke you inhale directly through the cigarette filter.
According to a 1998 World Health Organization (WHO) study, non-smoking spouses of smokers were found to have a 16 per cent increased risk of lung cancer. (World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/inf-pr-1998/en/pr98-29.html, 2007.) Passive smoking is also especially dangerous if you have young children at home, as it could impair their lung development, increase their likelihood of getting coughs, colds and pneumonia, and worsen the intensity of their asthma attacks.

3. You can have fresher breath

Most non-smokers can tell almost immediately if a person is a smoker by their breath, which is said to smell like an ashtray. Smoking also increases the risk of developing gum disease, which is another cause of bad breath.

No one likes being singled out for having bad breath, so don't compromise your dignity for the sake of your addiction. Start a fresh year with fresh breath!

4. You could be saving almost $300+ a month.

With the amount you save not buying a pack of cigarettes a month, why not treat yourself to something new for the New Year? Get yourself that nice shirt or fabulous pair of shoes you've been eyeing lately. Indulging in material things - instead of cigarettes - is by far a healthier hobby.

5. New help is available to better cope with cravings.

Quitting may seem tough at first, but NOT quitting is tougher in the long run. You are not the only one facing the difficulty of breaking away from an addiction - a recent health survey found that about 57 per cent of its respondents cited craving and physical addiction to smoking as the most common reason for not being able to quit. There are quit smoking aids which can help you overcome the addiction more easily - check with your doctor today.

6. There are better ways to cope with stress.

There are other ways to channel your anger, stress or negative energy, like, exercising. The money you save not buying cigarettes can easily pay for various sporting activities. In addition to stress management, exercising, itself, will bring many other benefits to your health.

Contrary to popular belief, willpower on its own is not necessarily the most effective method of quitting smoking. Smoking, which involves nicotine addiction, is a medical condition that you should take seriously. Your doctors are in the best position to help you overcome your addiction. Prescription medicines have been developed to make quitting easier and increase your probability of success. Ask your doctor what new therapies are available for quitting smoking, and look forward to a healthier and happier 2008.