Smoking affects practically every organ and affects your general health.Smoking leads to many chronic diseases including heart disease, chronic lung disease(COPD), stroke, hip fractures and hardening of the arteries.
Smoking causes many cancers such as:mouth,throat,lung,esophagus,stomach,pancreas,colon,bladder, kidney,and blood cancers.
Worldwide, tobacco use causes nearly 6 million deaths per year, more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure.Smoking is responsible for1,300 deaths every day in the US.
On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.Each day, more than 3,200 people younger than 18 years of age smoke their first cigarette.
Benefits of quitting smoking:Within 1 year, the risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half. Within 5 years, the risk of stroke falls to the same as a non-smoker. Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. Within 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease drops to the level of a non-smoker.
It’s never too late to consider smoking cessation.
Many strategies are available to quit smoking including cessation without assistance, use of medications, and behavioral counseling.
Personal desire to quit smoking, strong determination and willpower are essential for successful smoking cessation.
Talk to your physician to discuss your best options.
Once you quit, you will agree that it was the BEST thing you ever did!
