Want another reason to quit smoking? Look at the latest evidence on smoking cessation and the positive benefits to your mood and mental status.
MYTH = Most people state that smoking makes them “feel better” or continue to smoke because they think there are mental health benefits!
In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) looked at 26 studies that had assessed mental health with questionnaires designed to measure anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety and depression, psychological quality of life, positive affect, and stress were included. Their mental health scores were measured between 7 weeks to 9 year.
Results: Smoking cessation was associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress. Smoking cessation improved positive mood and quality of life when compared with continuation of smoking.
Here is a link to the free PDF version of the article:
http://www.epocrates.com/dacc/1402/MentalHealthAfterQuittingSmokingBMJ1402.pdf
