The goal of living a wellness lifestyle is to successfully change the behaviors that are harmful to our health or keep us from living in as healthy a manner as we can. Giving up smoking--and staying that way--is the most important and crucial lifestyle change any smoker could make.

Quitting smoking can literally save a life. If you are an ex-smoker or a smoker who has unsuccessfully tried to quit in the past, you know what an ominous task becoming smoke-free can be. As difficult as quitting may be, it is the only choice to make for a longer, healthier life. It is important for smokers to realize that no matter how long or how much they have smoked, the body is resilient and will greatly benefit.

According to the American Cancer Society and the CDC Office on Smoking and Health, just eight hours without a cigarette can return a smoker's carbon monoxide and oxygen levels to near normal. Twenty-four to forty-eight cigarette-free hours will reduce the chances of heart attack and allow for the regrowth of nerve endings. By one year, an ex-smoker's risk of coronary heart disease is reduced to half that of a smoker. And by just fifteen years of smoke-free living, an ex-smoker's risk of heart disease and death decreases to that of those who have never smoked.

With those sort of "second chances," why aren't more people quitting? There are many reasons why people choose to smoke. According to the National Cancer Institute, some people smoke because they say it allows them to relax when tense, or conversely, give them an energy boost. Some people find smoking a pleasurable experience, and some say they do it simply out of habit, especially when coupled with another habitual activity like having a cup of coffee or driving. Many smokers say they "crave" cigarettes, that smoking is an addiction.

Smoking is indeed an addiction for millions of people. Research has proven that the habit-forming substance in cigarettes, nicotine, is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a smoker can become physically and psychologically addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes. Fortunately, not even the addictive grip of nicotine can prevent smokers from kicking the habit for good!

The American Cancer Society states that nearly three million Americans successfully quit smoking each year. And if you are one of millions of smokers who have tried and failed at quitting, take heart! Studies have shown that many eventual successful ex-smokers made two, three, four or more attempts at quitting before they had their very last cigarette.

So, how did they do it? The following information from The National Cancer Institute will provide the facts for smokers who have made the commitment to move from just thinking about quitting to just doing it!

Smokers must be well prepared to quit. Smokers should prepare a list of reasons why they want to quit and make them as personal as possible. Some reasons may be: improved health and a longer life expectancy; no longer having foul smelling breath, hair and clothes; or no longer having to feel embarrassed when needing to sneak cigarettes in our increasingly smoking-intolerant society. Setting a target date to quit will also help prepare the smoker to commit to quit. Most importantly, smokers need to keep a steadfast positive attitude to help them achieve this difficult, but attainable, goal.

Know what to expect when quitting. Temporary withdrawal symptoms, like irritability, anxiousness, nervousness, headaches or upset stomach, are very common. Withdrawal symptoms are strongest during the first one to two weeks, but they will eventually subside. Seek the support of others. Smokers should tell close family and friends they are quitting to secure their support to help them both before and after they quit. Smokers should also ask their doctors or any number of community programs or agencies dedicated to help smokers quit.

There are many ways to quit smoking; many techniques to help smokers become successful quitters. Each smoker must decide which method of quitting will work best. There is an abundance of detailed literature available on stopping smoking from the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, The National Cancer Institute, and others. Contacting local chapters of any of these agencies, or local health care providers, will help the smoker take the first vital step toward a new smoke-free lifestyle.

If you are a smoker who wants to quit (and more than 80 percent of today's smokers want to quit), making the commitment to quit and sticking to it can save your life. Smoking is a habit no one can afford to keep.