I smoked for 16 years and was always reasonably healthy. But as you get older so the ailments start creeping in. Runny nose, colds, flu etc. I was lying in bed one night reading a book, when all of a sudden my heart started to beat very fast. This lasted a few minutes and then my heart rate returned to normal. This happenned several times over the next few days. This was my wake up call.
I had tried in the past to give up smoking using patches, chewing gum etc. without long term success. This time I went cold turkey without any “crutches”. I also started to exercise at the same time and eventually joined my local gym. It has been three years now that I have stopped.
Benefits are numerous: Lot more healthy, lot more energy, sex life has improved, don’t smell like an ash-tray. Money saved on smokes and medication.
You have to really want to give up. No excuses. Picture the long term benefits. They really are worth it. Looking back I realise that smoking was a crutch for a lot of personal issues as well.
Go for it, I wish you the best.