About 90 percent of smokers begin before the age of 21.

Factors that influence the decision to smoke are celebrities like rock stars and actors who smoke, friends and parents who smoke, and some now say that high levels of stress are leading kids toward cigarettes.

According to the American Lung Association, once you smoke 100 cigarettes, you’re at the point of addiction where quitting becomes very difficult. And the longer you smoke, the harder it gets because nicotine makes you feel good and alters your brain.

Very few people are able to quit on the first try, but those who are persistent, do succeed. And making the break is well worth it. Just 20 minutes after your last cigarette your blood pressure and pulse drop. After eight hours the oxygen levels in your blood return to normal so you may feel more energy. After two days your senses of smell and taste become enhanced, and after two weeks circulation improves for better physical activity.

The key is to understand why you smoke and the triggers that make you reach for a cigarette. Plan ahead by creating plans for dealing with the temptation.

New prescriptions medications are helping people to quit, which is something to consider if you’re serious and have not been able to stop on your own or with over-the-counter methods.