By now, even the tobacco companies agree: smoking is bad for your health — very bad, in fact. Cigarettes are the most hazardous, but cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco also contribute to tobacco’s terrible toll. And secondhand smoke is an important cause of death and disability in people who never light up.
We are making progress. Over 45 million Americans have quit, and many communities prohibit smoking in public places. But more than 20% of adults still smoke, and the habit remains more prevalent in men than women. Tragically, thousands of teenagers take up smoking every day.
We can do better. Fortunately, there are more ways to kick the habit than ever before.
The hazards of smoking
Tobacco is responsible for one of every five deaths in the U. S. That adds up to over 435,000 lives lost each year, and over 8.5 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses caused by smoking. All in all, the average nonsmoker lives about 14 years longer than the average smoker. And the worldwide burden is truly staggering. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking will kill about 650 million of the world’s 1.3 billion smokers alive today.
Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. About 20% of all cardiac deaths are caused by smoking.
Between 80% and 90% of all patients with emphysema owe their lung disease to smoking. Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia are among the other lung diseases that are increased in smokers.
And there’s more. Smoking contributes to many other health problems, ranging from cataracts, sinusitis, and dental disorders to aging skin, heartburn, diabetes, osteoporosis, and two issues of special concern to men, bladder cancer and erectile dysfunction.
The more you smoke, the higher your risks — but even a few cigarettes a day will harm your health. “Light” and “low-tar” cigarettes are no safer than high-test brands. The only truly safe dose of tobacco is zero.
| Secondhand smoke and community controlsMore than 126 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year, about 3,000 of them die from lung cancer and about 35,000 to 60,000 die from heart disease caused by exposure to the more than 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke. And secondhand smoke also causes 150,000 to 300,000 respiratory infections in infants and young children each year.Many communities now ban smoking in public places. That clears the air — but does it also improve health? Two examples show that it does. In Scotland, smoke-free legislation produced a rapid improvement in respiratory symptoms and lung function in bar workers. In Pueblo, Colorado, restrictions on smoking in public places were followed by a 27% reduction in hospitalizations for heart attacks; no reduction was observed in the surrounding county. |
The benefits of quitting
Quitting helps, even if you’ve smoked for years. Within days, your blood vessels will regain much of the normal function that is damaged by smoking. Within weeks, you’ll be able to taste food better, and your sense of smell will recover from tobacco’s assault. Within months, symptoms of chronic bronchitis ease up, and lung function improves within a year. Quitting reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke within two to five years. And the risk of lung cancer begins to drop substantially within five to nine years of quitting.
People who kick the habit, regardless of age, live longer than those who continue to smoke. And since each pack of cigarettes costs our society $7.18, quitting will help America’s budget as well as yours.
Top priority
Smoking is Public Health Enemy Number One — so if you smoke, quitting should be your top priority. It will take willpower and hard work, but lots of help is available. You may gain a few pounds, you may go through a rough spell as your body adjusts to life without tobacco, and you may have to try several times before you finally kick the habit. Don’t be discouraged. Over 45 million Americans have quit smoking, and you can, too. Do whatever it takes; it’s the manly thing to do.
Yes this is my goal for 2011! This is not about me, this is not about you, but it is about us and where we are headed as a society. Let’s get healthy this year. Join in my story as a smoker for over 20 plus years.
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