Due to the known health consequences of smoking tobacco and cigarettes, the American Cancer Society has kept smoking cessation at the top of its list for decades. This article provides a basic list of known facts about the results of smoking. Please keep in mind that these are facts, not overstatements or guesses. Tobacco is the only legally advertised substance that is known to cause death.
Facts about Smoking from the American Cancer Society
Here are the basic facts laid out in a quick, no nonsense format that all loved ones should read together or hang on a wall.
For the past 28 years, smoking tobacco has been known as the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
The use of tobacco products directly causes one out of every five deaths in the United States. In other words, smoking is the single most preventable cause of mortality. This translates to 443,600 tobacco-related deaths every year. It's simple – those who don't smoke live longer.
All other major causes of preventable death added together do not equal the mortality rate of smoking and tobacco. Think about it. The mortality rates of auto accidents, drinking, using drugs, murder and AIDS put together cannot match the inevitable killing power of cigarette smoking.
All together, smoking is linked to at least 30% of cancer deaths. Tobacco use is linked to an increased risk of eleven different types of cancer.
Smoking causes almost all lung cancer mortality. This is a difficult disease to treat, and it is the largest cause of cancer mortality.
Cancer is scary, but it is only one of many concerns for smokers. Tobacco users also increase their risk of cardiology-related illnesses including heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms.
Smoking is very hard on the lungs. Smokers not only suffer from constant smokers' hack. They also have higher rates of bronchitis and pneumonia.
Most emphysema patients are smokers. This is a nasty disease that hardens the lungs causing breathing to be difficult and often causes a slow and painful death.
90% of adult cigarette smokers started when they were 19 or younger.
Resources for more Information about How to Quit Smoking
The American Cancer Society is a network of doctors that have learned a lot about the affects of smoking over the last several decades. Please start here for some really great ideas about how to quit smoking today.
The American Lung Association also has many resources exclusively dedicated to helping smokers quit and encouraging teenagers not to start smoking.
Sources
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