smoking sucks
Statastics of Smokers
Kids under 18 who become new regular, daily smokers each day 700
Kids 4-17 exposed to secondhand smoke 39.6%
Packs of cigarettes consumed by kids each year 800 Million
Adults in the USA who smoke 18.1% or 42.1 million
Problems caused by Tobacco
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
- Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is about one in five deaths.
- Smoking causes more deaths each year than all of these combined:
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Illegal drug use
- Alcohol use
- Motor vehicle injuries
- Firearm-related incidents
- More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States during its history.1
- Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and women; More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.
- About 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are caused by smoking.
- Cigarette smoking increases risk for death from all causes in men and women.
- The risk of dying from cigarette smoking has increased over the last 50 years in men and women in the United States.
Ways to quit Tobacco Use
You can quit smoking on your own or with the help of medication, counseling, patches, gums, nasal spray or even hypnotherapy. If you are looking to put together or select a quit smoking program, I suggest you consider four elements in your "combination":
- Appropriate use of pharmacological products. If you feel you are severely addicted to smoking, you may wish to consider nicotine replacement products so your body gradually gets used to living without nicotine: always talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or qualified quitting expert first before using these drugs.
Chemicals found in tabacco
- Acetaldehyde - this chemical is used in resins and glues. It is believed to be a carcinogen. Experts say it is likely that it facilitates the absorption of other dangerous chemical into the bronchial tubes.
- Acetone - this chemical is used in solvents. It irritates the eyes, nose and throat. Long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- Acrolein - commonly used in herbicides and polyester resins. It is also used in chemical warfare. Acrolein is an ingredient in tear gas. It is very poisonous and irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract.
- Acrylonitrile - also known as vinyl cyanide. Experts believe it is a human carcinogen. It is used in synthetic resins, rubber and plastics.