Cancer Health

There are so many risks to smoking that it is hard to understand why Americans have difficulty stopping such a harmful practice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are many increased health risks associated with this habit. There are also huge health benefits to those who do not smoke.These hard facts should make anyone think twice about continuing to smoke.

The CDC reports that one in every five people die in the U.S. from the negative effects of smoking on their health. The Center states that more people die from the use of tobacco each year than those who die from drug overdoses, car accidents, AIDS, murder, suicide and alcohol related use combined.

Wait. Let’s stop and think about that. If cigarettes are the #1 killer, why do stores still sell this legal substance in the United States? Is it because we don’t want to eliminate the multi-billion dollar industry that continues to addict new generations of smokers? Is it because too many people who have the power to change this are smokers themselves?

Smoking is not just your free ticket to lung cancer. It is your ticket to harming people around you with secondhand smoke as well. It puts you at risk for other problems like heart attack and stroke. Let’s look at the health risk assessments from the CDC.

• Smokers increase their chance of developing heart disease up to 4 times the normal rate for those who do not smoke.
• Smokers are up to 4 times more likely to die from a stroke than are those who do not use tobacco.
• Lung disease is up to 14 times more likely to develop in those who smoke than in those who don’t.

None of the ways you might be more likely to die from tobacco smoking sounds very pleasant. Most people want to maintain the healthy function of their heart and lungs for as long as they can. They also want to grow up to see their grandchildren get married.

The next time you think about buying a pack of cigarettes and lighting up, just remember the many harmful effects of continuing this dangerous habit. If you want more information, you can read more about it through many other online sources if you have a hard time finding a reason to quit.

If you think you can’t quit by yourself, you can search online for free help with quitting or consult your health care professional for the best program that can help you stop. There are products such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, an other helpful products to assist you in quitting the habit. You don’t have to die from a tobacco-related disease if you make the decision to get help now.