The facts are there — smoking will cause several health risks and problems to the human body.
Smoking causes heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in both men and women in the United States. Other common diseases linked to smoking include cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and heart disease.
Smoking damages the immune system, making it difficult to fight off viruses and infections. It damages the lungs, causing a chronic cough and contributing to breathing difficulty.
Direct use is not the only way someone can be affected by smoking. Secondhand smoke is a toxic cocktail consisting of poisons and harmful carcinogens.
There are more than 4,000 chemical compounds in secondhand smoke, 200 of which are known to be toxic, and nearly 60 of which are known to cause cancer.
It causes several diseases, including heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema, stroke and premature death in adults. It is linked to asthma, bronchitis, coughing, middle-ear infections, and reduced lung function in children.
On average, secondhand smoke is linked to 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 46,000 heart disease deaths in U.S. adult nonsmokers each year.
There are ways to avoid secondhand smoke. In 2008, a statewide smoking law was enacted. As a result, more than 90 percent of public places have healthier workplaces for their employees and customers.
Choosing smoke-free environments on a regular basis is one way to enjoy many wonderful public places while not jeopardizing your own health.
To avoid the hazards of smoking it is beneficial to never start smoking, and to quit if you do smoke.
Those of you who choose to quit will experience many health benefits as a result. You will have more energy, your circulation will improve, and your lung function will increase.
Individuals previously exposed to secondhand smoke (especially your children) will be healthier from non-exposure, and if you are pregnant, your baby will receive more oxygen and be healthier when born.
Another benefit is that you will have more money to spend.
The average price for a pack of cigarettes is between $4.50 and $6 a pack. An individual who smokes one pack per day will spend between $32 and $42 a week, or between $1,664 and $2,184 each year.
Tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of death and disease in the United States today.
If you smoke, you can quit. There are many no-cost resources available to help.
The PA Free Quitline is available by calling 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669). Internet assistance is available at Quitnet (www.quitnet.com), and Determined to Quit (www.DeterminedToQuit.com)..
The Erie County Department of Heath also provides information and support for those who wish to quit. For more information, call 451-6709 or visit www.ecdh.org..
You are not alone. Help is available, all you need to do is ask.
By STEVE DUNSMORE, a health education/promotion intern at the Erie County Department of Health.
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